Springfield Standard

Missouri State University's volleyball team achieved a season-high 18 blocks in a 3-1 win over Purdue Fort Wayne on Friday evening at Hammons Student Center. The victory completed a two-match series sweep against the Mastodons.

Senior Lizanyela Lopez led the Bears with 11 blocks, marking the most by a Missouri State player since Azyah Green recorded the same number against Loyola in March 2021. The team's total of 18 blocks was its highest since posting 19 against Belmont in November 2023.

The Bears, now holding a 4-4 record, registered 10 blocks during the first set alone. Despite being outpaced in kills by Purdue Fort Wayne (20-8), Missouri State secured the opening set after Grace Smith delivered consecutive blocks to break a tie at 24-all. Smith ended the night with a career-high seven blocks.

Purdue Fort Wayne (1-7) gained an early lead and won the second set without trailing. However, Missouri State's defense responded strongly, limiting their opponent to negative hitting efficiency in both the third and fourth sets and reducing PFW's overall hitting percentage to .091 for the match.

Seven different Bears contributed multiple blocks throughout the game. Aniya Joseph led defensively with a career-best 20 digs. In key moments, Kya Johnson served two aces during a decisive third-set run, while Hannah Gardner added two more aces as part of an eight-point streak that secured the fourth set.

Missouri State will be on the road until early October, participating in matches against Saint Louis University, Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO), and Kansas City as part of the Missouri Challenge from September 18-20. The team is scheduled to begin its inaugural Conference USA schedule on September 26-27 at Florida International University in Miami.

"Lopez's 11 stuffs were the most by a Bear since Azyah Green had that many against Loyola in March 2021, and team total was the highest since getting 19 against Belmont in November 2023."

"The Bears (4-4) had 10 blocks in the opening set alone, overcoming a 20-8 deficit in kills for the win. The set was knotted at 24-all after 15 ties when Grace Smith had back-to-back blocks for the win, giving her six in the opening period."

"PFW (1-7) jumped ahead 6-0 and never trailed in the second set, and the MoState defense took over after that."

"The Bears held the Mastodons to a negative hitting efficiency in both the third and fourth sets, dropping PFW's total to .091 in the contest. Smith finished with a career-high seven blocks and seven Bears had multiple stuffs, while Aniya Joseph lifted a career-high 20 digs."

"MoState pulled away in the third set with a 5-0 run to 17-11 that included two Kya Johnson aces. In the fourth, Hannah Gardner served a pair of aces in an 8-0 run that put the set away early."

"Missouri State is on the road until early October, heading to St. Louis to face SLU, SEMO and Kansas City in the Missouri Challenge (Sept. 18-20) before opening its inaugural Conference USA schedule Sept. 26-27 at FIU in Miami."