SPRINGFIELD – Behind a career-high 23 kills and six blocks from Maddy Bushnell, and career highs of 14 kills, 17 digs and five aces from freshman Breanah Rives, Missouri State won the final two sets from visiting Western Illinois Friday evening at Hammons Student Center to earn a 3-2 victory.

The Bears (6-5) won for the second straight night, this time by set scores of 25-18, 20-25, 20-25, 25-22, 15-12, and will meet Arkansas State (9-2) for the tournament championship at 1 p.m. Saturday. Kids aged 12 and under are admitted free with an autograph session with the team following the match.

Missouri State never trailed in the first set and led by as many as 10 points in a comfortable victory, but the Leathernecks (2-8) hit .333 or better in each of the next two periods to gain the lead.

The fourth set was tied 12 times with six lead changes, and the Bears closed on a 4-0 run after facing a 22-21 deficit.

That run turned into nine consecutive points with a 5-0 start to the fifth set, and Missouri State led by at least two points the rest of the way, with Bushnell's 23rd kill capping the victory.

Azyah Green added 10 kills to give the Bears three players in double figures, while Teagan Polcovich (25), Rives (17), Kate Owen (14) and Katie Wemhoener (10) each tallied 10-plus digs.

Missouri State hit .177 compared to .211 for WIU, and trailed 64-60 in kills, 102-91 in digs and 13-7 in blocks while serving eight aces and taking advantage of 12 Leatherneck errors at the service line.