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(MSU Sports Information)
SPRINGFIELD — Missouri State notched a season-high 14 blocks and held Evansville to a negative hitting efficiency Saturday to earn a 25-18, 25-10, 25-14 victory at Hammons Student Center.
The Bears improved to 13-5 overall and 5-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play with their sixth consecutive victory overall and 21st straight regular-season conference win. Evansville (6-10, 0-4) hit -.048 with 20 kills and 25 errors as the first MSU opponent to hit below .000 since Sept. 28, 2014.
MacKenzie Irwin (7) and Lauren Boone (5) each established career highs in blocking, Lynsey Wright and Aubrey Cheffey added four stuffs apiece, and Lily Johnson hit .407 with 12 kills, 13 digs, three aces and three blocks. Emily Butters led all players with 14 digs, and Daniele Messa had a double-double with 19 assists and 11 digs.
Johnson and Ashley Ophoven combined for nine kills and no errors on the outside in the first set, and the Bears went ahead 9-2 after an early 7-0 run and led by at least four points for the remainder of the period.
The Bears jumped ahead 7-2 in the second set and capped a 9-0 run with three consecutive blocks for a 20-6 score while holding the Aces to six kills, then blocked six attacks in the third period and limited UE to only four kills against nine errors while breaking the set open with a 7-0 run to lead 14-5.
The Bears have a week off until visiting Southern Illinois for a 7 p.m. first serve on Oct. 7.
