Springfield Standard

Missouri State’s volleyball team lost to Incarnate Word 3-1 on Saturday afternoon at the Wildcat Invitational in Abilene, Texas. The Bears won the first set but dropped the next three, falling by scores of 25-21, 19-25, 18-25, and 24-26 inside Moody Coliseum.

Rilynn Finley led Missouri State with her first career double-double, tallying 12 kills and a career-high 14 digs. Lexi Weinberg and Jenna Walters each added 11 kills for the Bears. “Finley provided four kills and an ace during a 6-1 run to a 14-8 MSU lead in the opening set, UIW (2-1) tied the score twice, and the Bears countered with a closing 4-0 run, winning it when Weinberg and Hannah Gardner combined for a block,” according to Missouri State Athletics.

Missouri State jumped out to leads in both the first and second sets but was unable to maintain momentum. In the second set, after taking a 14-10 advantage, Incarnate Word answered with a decisive 15-5 run to even the match.

Incarnate Word kept control in the third set by scoring five straight points to lead 13-8 and held off Missouri State in the fourth despite a late rally. The Bears closed within one point at 19-18 and tied it at 24-all before Incarnate Word finished with a kill and block.

Hannah Gardner recorded a double-double with 25 assists and 15 digs. Aniya Joseph led defensively with 16 digs. Missouri State served ten aces as a team but was outpaced by Incarnate Word in kills (60-49), hitting percentage (.226-.146), and total digs (82-78).

The Bears are scheduled to play their next five matches at home during the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational from September 4 through September 6 at Hammons Student Center. Their first opponent will be Lindenwood on Thursday, followed by UTSA on Friday and DePaul on Saturday.