LAWRENCE, Kan. – Missouri State finished a successful non-conference schedule Saturday afternoon with a 3-2 victory over in-state foe Kansas City at the Jayhawk Classic at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

The Bears (9-3) won by set scores of 26-24, 17-25, 25-18, 19-25, 15-11, and will enter Missouri Valley Conference play with nine victories for the first time since 2016.

Amelia Flynn paced Missouri State with 21 kills and 17 digs, reaching 20 kills for the 12th time in her career. Brooklyn Cink added 15 kills on .290 hitting and the Bears posted season highs of 55 kills and 76 digs as a team.

"I'm proud of the way our squad bounced back after a tough day yesterday," head coach Steven McRoberts said after the win. "We showed a lot of grit and determination versus a very good Kansas City team. Amelia carried us today both offensively and on the back row. Brooklyn also had a great day offensively. We are excited about beginning conference next week at home."

Missouri State gained some breathing room in the first set with a 4-0 run capped by two Morgan Sprague aces for a 12-8 lead, and it was 17-11 Bears on an Azyah Green kill. Kansas City pulled even at 20 when Cink took over with four kills down the stretch. The first two put MSU ahead 22-20, the next gave the Bears set point at 24-22, and the fourth was good for the 26-24 win.

Kansas City (9-3) had four blocks and three aces in a comfortable set two win, and Flynn carried the Bears through the third period with seven kills, two aces and a block.

The Roos out-hit Missouri State .300-.029 in the fourth set to even the match and led 4-2 in the fifth when the Bears turned it around. Green had two kills and a block in a 4-0 run to a 6-4 lead, and Flynn had five kills without an error and six digs in the final period to help secure the victory. MSU hit .292 with nine kills and two errors in the fifth and went 9-for-11 siding out KC serves.

Teagan Polcovich led four Bears in double figures with 22 digs, Sprague had 11 to go with 46 assists for the double-double, and Green participated in five of MSU's seven blocks.

Missouri State begins MVC play at home with a 6 p.m. match against Loyola on Friday, Sept. 24 at Hammons Student Center.