Springfield Standard

Missouri State University's volleyball team opened the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational with a 3-1 win over Lindenwood at Hammons Student Center on Thursday. Freshmen Jenna Walters, Peyton McKee, and Hannah Gardner combined for 37 kills, helping the Bears secure their first victory of the season.

Walters recorded 16 kills with a .361 hitting percentage, while McKee added 13 kills and hit .310. Gardner contributed eight kills along with 16 assists and 11 digs.

"Really big win tonight and our freshman really impressed," head coach Steven McRoberts said after the match. "If you look at the stat sheet, it's just full of great performances. I told the team in the locker room that everybody out there contributed, whether it was kills or blocking or digs or aces."

Defensively, Missouri State registered 17 blocks—its highest total since November 2023—with Lizanyela Lopez leading with eight blocks. Grace Smith and Lexi Weinberg each added six blocks. The eight blocks by Lopez were the most by a Bear since Azyah Green's nine last November.

The Bears won the first two sets comfortably but dropped a close third set after rallying from a three-point deficit late in the frame. In the fourth set, Missouri State took an early lead and held off Lindenwood's comeback attempt to close out the match.

Statistically, Missouri State hit .280 compared to Lindenwood’s .154 attack percentage. The Bears also led in aces (8-4) and blocks (17-8). Aniya Joseph had a team-high 16 digs; Kya Johnson finished with 12.

"I think there was immense improvement between week one and week two with this team," McRoberts said. "Being able to double our hitting percentage from last week was huge for us. Jenna and Peyton and Lexi did a great job of handling both in-system and out-of-system attacks. Being able to come out and establish that and have our young players play with that type of confidence was fun to watch."

Missouri State continues tournament play Friday night against UTSA.