VALPARAISO, Ind. – Missouri State recorded its highest dig total since the 2014 season finale Friday evening in a 3-2 loss at Valparaiso to open the Missouri Valley Conference season.

Both Morgan Sprague (23) and Breanah Rives (20) registered career-high dig totals, Teagan Polcovich led all players with 36 – the second-most in her four MSU seasons – and the Bears' 110 digs were the club's most since Nov. 28, 2014, against Illinois State.

Rives also had 14 kills for her fifth consecutive double-double, sharing team-high offensive honors with Maddy Bushnell, who did so on .308 hitting, as the Bears fell to 6-7 overall and 0-1 in league play.

Valpo moved to 9-5 and 1-0 in conference play after set scores of 25-18, 21-25, 25-23, 17-25, 15-8.

MoState never led in the first set and the Beacons took control with a 5-0 run to lead 18-10. The second set was the Bears' turn for a decisive, late 5-0 run, this time for a 21-18 lead.

Valpo scored eight in a row to lead 19-11 in the third and Missouri State clawed back to 24-23 but was unable to get over the hump.

Azyah Green had three kills and two blocks in a 7-0 run for a 10-5 lead in the fourth, and Valpo served for the tie twice before yet another 5-0 run made it 18-12 Bears and gave the visitors more than enough cushion.

The Beacons led the fifth set by multiple points from 3-1 on, using four blocks to help seal the win.

Missouri State continues its weekend road trip with a 3 p.m. Saturday match at UIC. The Flames (9-5) lost 3-1 to Southern Illinois Friday in their Valley opener.