St. LOUIS, Mo. – Rilynn Finley's career-high 24 kills and Grace Smith's career-best 11 blocks were among several big numbers put up by Missouri State against Southeast Missouri State Friday in a 3-2 loss to the Redhawks in the Missouri Challenge at Chaifetz Pavilion. SEMO won by set scores of 28-26, 21-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-12.
 
Finley's kill total was the highest for a Bear since Iva Halacheva had 25 on Oct. 22, 2022, while Smith joins teammate Lizanyela Lopez as Bears with 11 blocks in a match this year, something previously not done at MoState since March 2021.
 
Missouri State (4-6) piled up 16 blocks, reaching that total for the third time this year - a program first since 2007 - and lifted a season-high 95 digs with Brooke Eslinger (25) and Kya Johnson (20) leading the way.
 
SEMO (6-4) closed the first set on a 3-0 run after the Bears held set point at 26-25, and Missouri State pulled away from a 16-16 tie in the second to even the match.
 
Finley had six kills and Peyton McKee added five in a third-set win, and the Redhawks used a 4-0 run in the fourth to overcome a 19-18 deficit and send the Bears to a fifth stanza for the second straight day.
 
The deciding period was tied nine times to 11-11 when the Redhawks put it away with a decisive 3-0 run while hitting .391 with 11 kills in the set.
 
Missouri State led 64-62 in total kills, .202-.176 in attack efficiency, 95-82 in digs and 16-8 in blocks.
 
The Bears finish tournament play Saturday at noon against Kansas City.