SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State opened its two-game volleyball series against Purdue Fort Wayne Thursday with a 25-21, 25-12, 25-19 sweep of the Mastodons at Hammons Student Center.
 
The Bears (3-4) hit a season-best .314 and equaled their season high with 10 service aces. PFW fell to 1-6 on the year.
 
Lizanyela Lopez and Lexi Weinberg each went 4-for-5 on the attack in the opening set and Grace Smith had two of her match-high five blocks during a 4-0 run that put the Bears up for good at 15-12.
 
Missouri State never trailed in the second frame, hitting .455 and forcing the Mastodons (1-6) into seven errors against just six kills.
 
In the third, the Bears jumped out to a 5-0 lead with Brooke Eslinger at the service line, PFW tied at 15 and 16, then Kya Johnson served a pair of aces in a 5-0 run that put MSU up 21-16 and secured the sweep. Rilynn Finley had five of her team-high nine kills in the final set.
 
Weinberg hit .538 with eight kills and Lopez hit .500 with six winners. Rossana Papa and Hannah Gardner split the setting duties and tallied 17 and 13 assists, respectively, while Gardner added four blocks. Aniya Joseph led MSU with nine digs.
 
The Bears and Mastodons meet again at 6 p.m. Friday.