SPRINGFIELD – Thanks to a strong all around showing the final two sets Friday, Missouri State rallied from a 2-1 deficit to taking down visiting Belmont in five sets at Hammons Student Center.

The Bears (9-9, 3-3 Missouri Valley Conference) were victorious by set scores of 23-25, 25-19, 23-25, 25-18 and 15-12.

Missouri found itself in a 2-1 hole despite outscoring the Bruins (9-11, 3-3) cumulatively through three sets, losing the first and third periods even though those sets were tied as late as 23 and 22, respectively.

In between, the Bears hit .333 with 15 kills in the second set with five different players scoring multiple points.

In the fourth, Kate Owen served three consecutive aces in the midst of a 7-0 run for a 17-11 lead and finished the match with a career-high six points from the service line. The Bears hit .275 in that set, getting five kills from Deja Bickers, and continued that offensive momentum into the final frame.

MoState hit .273 in the final set and never trailed, doubling up the Bruins at 10-5 and holding on for the victory.

Bickers and Maddy Bushnell led the offense with 14 kills each and Breanah Rives added 10. Teagan Polcovich had 18 digs to lead four Bears in double figures. Morgan Sprague filled the box score with 43 assists, 14 digs and seven kills on .538 hitting.

Missouri State hit .233 compared to .202 for the visitors, committing nine fewer errors. The Bears trailed 91-79 in digs and 10-6 in blocks but owned a 9-3 lead at the service line and capitalized on 13 Belmont errors from that spot.

The Bears conclude their five-match home stand Saturday at 5 p.m. against Murray State (10-5, 4-2).