Box Score

WICHITA, Kan. - Wichita State downed visiting Missouri State in a five-set Missouri Valley Conference match, 25-15, 18-25, 25-23, 21-25, 15-9, Friday in front of a crowd of 4,206 at Charles Koch Arena.

The Shockers improved to 16-5 overall and 9-3 in conference play, led by 17 kills from Camri Zwiesler and 16 kills from Emily Adney. Mary Elizabeth Hooper picked up 45 assists and two service aces, while Sarah Waldorf recorded 21 digs in the win. Amanda Backes also finished with double-digit kills with 10. Zwiesler also gained 15 digs.

The Missouri State Bears fell to 17-6 overall and 8-4 in conference play. Christine McCartney led the Bears with 15 kills, Carly Thomas had 49 assists and Cara Hackmann had 23 digs.

Friday's crowd of 4,206 fans marked the sixth-largest in Shocker history. They saw Wichita State even the season series between the two teams. Missouri State won the first meeting of the season Oct. 2 in Springfield, Mo., in four sets.

The Shockers grabbed an early 5-2 lead in the first set with a kill from Amanda Backes, but the Bears cut the lead to 7-6 with a kill from Bethany Fuller.  Another Fuller kill tied the score at eight, but the Shockers used a 4-0 run, including back-to-back aces by Hooper, to go back in front 11-8.  A service ace from Sarah Waldorf increased the lead to 16-10 and another kill from Backes made the score 19-11.  The Shockers won the set 25-15 with a kill by Camri Zwiesler.

A Calli Norman kill put the Bears in front 5-2 in game two and a Shocker hitting error gave MSU a 13-9 lead.  The Bears continued to lead the rest of the way and took a 25-18 win in game two.

A kill by Backes gave the Shocks an early 5-4 lead in the third set, but a kill by Christine McCartney tied the score at five.  The Shockers answered with a 3-0 run behind the serving of Jackie Church to take an 8-5 advantage.  A kill by Norman cut the lead to 12-11 and the Bears tied the score at 12 on a kill by Carly Thomas.  The two teams went back-and-forth until the Shockers took a 19-17 advantage after a Bear hitting error.  A block by Backes and Elizabeth Field put WSU in front 23-20, but the Bears pulled to within 24-23 on a kill by Fuller.  A kill by Emily Adney ended the set with a 25-23 Shocker win.

The fourth set went back-and-forth until a kill by Shayla Patrick put the Bears in front 10-8.  A service ace by Cara Hackmann increased the lead to 11-8 and a kill by McCartney increased it to 14-10.  A service ace by Church cut the lead to 14-12 and a kill by Zwiesler put the Shockers in front 16-15.  A service ace by Adney increased the lead to 17-15, but the Bears used a Shocker hitting error to cut it to 19-18.  A Norman kill tied it at 20 before a kill by Kelley Michnowicz gave the Bears a 21-20 lead.  A Bear block increased it to 22-20 before a block by Field and Hooper cut it to 22-21.  Another kill by Norman gave MSU a 24-21 advantage and MSU won the set 25-21 on a Shocker hitting error.

A block by Sarah McGee and Hooper gave WSU an early 3-1 lead in the fifth set and a Bear hitting error gave WSU a 5-2 advantage.  The teams traded points until a Bear hitting error put WSU in front 8-5 and a Zwiesler kill made it 9-5.  A Bear kill and block cut the lead to 9-7, but Field answered with a kill for a 10-7 lead.  A Shocker block and kill increased the lead to 12-7 before the Bears answered with a block to cut it to 12-8.  A kill by Backes brought the Shocks to match point at 14-8 and a Backes and McGee block ended it at 15-9. 

The Shockers are next in action on Fri., Nov. 5 when they host Creighton at 7 p.m.

-Wichita State-