MIAMI, Fla. – Missouri State's first ever match in the Conference USA Volleyball Championship was one for the memories Friday afternoon as the Bears took down top-seeded UTEP in straight sets by scores of 25-23, 27-25, 25-22 inside Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
 
MoState handed the Miners (25-4) just their fourth loss of the season by hitting .340 in the 2025 tournament's first quarterfinal match, led by 18 kills on .412 hitting by freshman outside hitter Peyton McKee. UTEP entered the contest ranked 15^th in the latest NCAA RPI and just outside this week's AVCA Top 25 poll. The eighth-seeded Bears improved to 12-16 after their most complete effort of the season.
 
"Coming in, I felt good about how we were playing," said head coach Steven McRoberts following the win. "We had been saying for a couple weeks, just let us in the tournament because we feel like we have a chance against anybody. It's by far the best that we've played all season, I'm just so proud of them right now."
 
Facing an early 10-3 deficit in the opening set, the Bears rallied for a 16-15 lead on a Lizanyela Lopez kill and went up 21-20 when Rilynn Finley's winner capped a 3-0 run. UTEP scored next for the tie, Lexi Weinberg answered with a kill and MSU held the lead to the win, with McKee's sixth and seventh kills providing the final two MoState points.
 
The Bears hit .455 with 18 kills in the second period but only narrowly escaped with the win. Aces from Weinberg (15-12) and Kya Johnson (18-14) handed MSU leads, and it was 23-20 after another Weinberg kill before UTEP charged back. The Miners pulled even at 23-23 and the teams sided out to 26-25 when Finley's kill converted MoState's third set point opportunity for the 2-0 match lead.
 
Missouri State led 15-10 in the third when the Miners rattled off five in a row to tie at 15. The set was tied at each point through 20-20 when Weinberg and McKee hit consecutive kills. Lopez added a solo stuff for 24-21, and a back row attacking error on UTEP ultimately gave the Bears the sweep.
 
"Our defense was on fire today and it's the most fun I've had playing a volleyball game," added a joyful McKee. "Coming in here and beating UTEP is really making a name for ourselves."
 
Finley added 10 kills for MoState and Weinberg added eight on .438 hitting as the Bears led UTEP 46-43 in total kills. Each team served four aces, the Bears owned a 36-35 dig lead with a high of 10 from Brooke Eslinger, and UTEP held a .9-7 blocking advantage.
 
Missouri State takes on fourth-seeded and host FIU (19-11) at 11 a.m. Central on Saturday in the semifinal round. The Panthers topped MSU 3-1 and 3-0 during the regular season in Miami.