DAYTON, Ohio – Missouri State and Dayton were tied 28 total times over the course of three close sets, but it was the host Flyers who came out on top of all three for a 25-22, 25-21, 25-18 sweep Saturday at the Frericks Center.

Missouri State's Maddy Bushnell started 10-for-10 on the attack and finished with a match-high 12 kills on .400 hitting, her career-best for a three-setter. Iva Halacheva added nine kills, but the Bears (2-7) hit .127 as a team compared to an efficiency .278 effort from Dayton (5-3).

Bushnell was part of three consecutive blocks to a 7-3 lead in the first, and the margin grew to 10-5 before Dayton went on top for the first time at 14-13. The Flyers opened a 21-17 advantage and MSU closed to 22-21 on Halacheva's third block of the set before the home team closed with three kills to finish plus-five in that category in the opening period.

Dayton's 17-15 lead was the first two-point margin for either side in the second, and from the 15th tie at 17-17 the Flyers scored four in a row for 21-17. Bushnell slammed her ninth and 10th kills for 22-21, and Dayton answered with two kills and an ace for the win.

The third set was tied eight times with four lead changes on the way to 13-13 despite both sides having a 5-0 run to that point. The Flyers scored the next four points and never looked back, taking advantage of 13 MSU errors in the final period.

Kate Owen led all players with 11 digs, Halacheva had four blocks, and Teagan Polcovich served two of MSU's three aces. Morgan Sprague dished out 32 assists.

The Bears stay on the road next weekend at the Billiken Classic, where they will take on Kansas City, Saint Louis and Iowa State.