Courtesy: MSU Photo Services Cara Hackmann had 14 kills and 17 digs
The Missouri State volleyball team staged a furious rally after dropping the first two sets and pushed the Creighton Bluejays to the limit before falling in the fifth set and dropping the Missouri Valley Conference match by scores of 14-25, 16-25, 25-19, 25-23 and 12-15 Saturday evening at Hammons Student Center.
With all the momentum in Missouri State’s favor, Creighton still managed to lead the final set 7-3 early before the Bears began chipping away at the advantage and grabbed the lead at 11-10 after Sara Staubach’s 11th kill. CU won the next three points and MSU managed to side out just once more as the Bluejays pulled away for the win.
It was two different Missouri State teams through the first four sets. The Bears hit .111 through two sets but turned around to hit .304 in the next two and force the fifth set. After easily handling CU in the third set, the Bears were tested in the fourth, though they didn’t trail after a 6-5 deficit. Creighton had the set tied at 19-19 before MSU used two blocks, three kills and a CU error to finish it off.
Cara Hackmann led Missouri State in both kills and digs, notching 14 and 17, respectively, for her eighth double-double of the season. She hit .393 as well. Staubach and freshman Kelley Michnowicz finished with 11 kills apiece and Calli Norman had 10 while adding a team-high six blocks.
The Bluejays hit .263 with 15 blocks compared to MSU’s totals of .194 and seven in those same categories.
MSU fell to 16-8 overall and 7-4 in the league, while the Jays moved to 11-8 and 8-3 in MVC play.
The Bears return to action Friday at Illinois State at 7 p.m. MSU has eight matches remaining in the regular season, four at home and four on the road against teams the Bears have previously defeated this season.
Courtesy: MSU Photo Services
