JOPLIN, Mo. – Midwestern State kept its slate clean and continued its best start in school history with a 25-16, 25-22, 25-19 win over Drury Friday afternoon at the Missouri Southern Invitational in the Leggett and Pratt Athletic Complex.

The Mustangs got a huge overall effort from senior opposite hitter Whitney Maxwell, who held Drury's top option, Jagoda Pstras, to a -.083 hitting percentage with just five kills.

"I kept Whitney on their big hitter and she held her to a negative," MSU coach Venera Flores-Stafford said.

Senior libero Shay Velasquez turned in a phenomenal performance to finish with 26 of MSU's 56 digs.

"Both teams took a lot of swings," Flores-Stafford said. "They were scrappy on defense and it felt like they had a lot more than the 55 digs they were credited."

The Mustangs received great production from the middle as Alysha Pritt paced the team with 15 kills and Sesley Graves finished with eight kills with just one error in 22 attacks.

Maxwell added eight kills with no errors in 22 attacks, while Jessica Ransom had seven kills and hit .080.

Senior setter Allison Schreiber directed the MSU attack to a .280 team hitting percentage and finished with 37 assists.

Midwestern State battles Northwest Missouri State tonight at 7 p.m. before closing invitational with matches against Missouri Southern and Dallas Baptist on Saturday.