CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Missouri State's bid for a rare season sweep of UNI came up short Saturday evening at the McLeod Center as the Panthers earned a 25-16, 25-17, 25-18 sweep in Missouri Valley Conference volleyball play.

Senior Amelia Flynn led the MSU offense with 11 kills and Azyah Green tallied seven blocks while 14 players saw the floor as Missouri State used a variety of lineups.

The Bears (14-13, 5-10) never led in the first set after a 2-0 start for the Panthers (11-16, 6-8), and after UNI used a 4-0 run for a 9-4 advantage, Missouri State got as close as 18-16 before the home team finished on a 7-0 run, holding MSU to .000 hitting.

Missouri State grabbed a 3-0 lead in the second before a pair of 5-0 UNI runs gave the Panthers leads of 10-8 and 15-11. UNI pulled away from there on the strength of a .265 attack efficiency in the set.

The Bears were up 12-10 after a 4-0 run and three early blocks in the third period only to see UNI counter with a 7-0 run to take the lead for good.

UNI hit .242 compared to .040 for the Bears and led 40-26 in kills, 48-36 in digs and 8-0 in aces. Each team had nine blocks.

The Bears close the regular season with three home matches, beginning with Southern Illinois at 6 p.m. on Nov. 12 at Hammons Student Center.