Missouri State University

The Missouri State volleyball team stood toe-to-toe with 20th-ranked Wichita State Friday at Hammons Student Center and handed the Shockers their first loss in their last 38 MVC road matches and 36 overall regular-season contests with a five-set victory in front of a crowd of 2,387.

    Scores in favor of Missouri State (10-4, 3-0 MVC) were 22-25, 25-18, 22-25, 25-18 and 15-6. Wichita State fell to 11-2 overall and 2-1 in the league.

    After fending off five match points before eventually falling in the first, the Bears handed WSU its worst set loss of the season at 25-18 in the second to forge a 1-1 tie at intermission.

    The third set went much like the first, with the Shockers building a big lead before faltering late and handing the Bears momentum. After WSU led 19-10 in the third, Missouri State closed the match by outscoring the visitors 52-30 over the last half of the contest.   

    The Bears hit .289 as a team, picking apart a WSU defense that was holding opponents to an .098 attack efficiency for the season. In fact, the previous high for a WSU opponent this season was .204.

    The balanced MSU attack was led by senior Addie Foley, who totaled 18 kills and 15 digs, one shy of her career high in each category. Sara Staubach had 13 kills, Calli Norman had 12 and hit .550 and Kelley Michnowicz hit .440 with 12 kills.

    Melissa Gmur dished out 50 assists and scooped 17 digs, both career highs, and Abby Padlock lifted 14 digs for a career high as well. Cara Hackmann hit 30 digs for the second time this season, and MSU finished with 94 digs to WSU’s 72.

    WSU’s Emily Stockman led all players with 27 kills, though only three came in the final two sets. The Bears also limited Sarah McGee, who entered the match rnaked second in the MVC in hitting percentage behind Norman, to a .171 hitting figure. WSU hit .226 as a team and out-blocked the Bears 12-6.

    The Bears return to action Oct. 2 at Drake.