CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – First-place UNI became just the third team this season to hit above .250 against the Missouri State defense, ending Friday's match with a .342 efficiency in a 25-18, 25-11, 25-18 sweep of the Bears inside the McLeod Center.

The Panthers moved to 13-6 overall and remained unbeaten in Missouri Valley Conference play at 7-0, while the Bears fell to 9-11 overall and 3-5 in Valley matches.

The opening set was tied 13 times to a 14-14 score when UNI scored consecutive points and slowly pulled away on the strength of 17 kills.

The home team hit .400 in the second period and led wire-to-wire after a 4-0 start. MoState grabbed a 2-0 lead in the third, but the Panthers countered with a 6-0 run and never looked back to complete the sweep.

Teagan Polcovich led all players with 19 digs, moving up a spot to 11th on Missouri State's career list in that category with 1,271. Deja Bickers had a team-high seven kills, and UNI led 48-27 in that category. The Panthers also owned leads of 51-44 in digs, 7-3 in blocks and 6-2 in service aces.

The Bears visit Drake (13-6, 6-1) at 5 p.m. Saturday. The Bulldogs sweep Southern Illinois at home on Friday.