RUSSELLVILLE, Ark.  – Behind a double-double from freshman setter Hayden Blair and a 12-kill performance from sophomore outside hitter Addison Semer, the Midwestern State volleyball team responded from an earlier defeat Friday with a 3-0 victory (25-17, 25-20, 25-19) over Missouri Southern to wrap up action on the first day of the Arkansas Tech Tournament.

"We came out a little flat this morning," said head coach Natalie Rawson. "It took us too long to find our fight, but we definitely brought it for game two. They were relentless on defense and it paid off in a great win!"

Making her seventh start, Blair posted 36 assists and 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Semer also led the Mustangs with four blocks, and was joined in double-digit kills by senior outside hitter Hunter Porter, who recorded 10 on a team-best .364 hitting percentage.

The Mustangs (4-4) set the momentum early with a 3-0 start in the first set. Midway through the frame, MSU pushed the lead to 15-9 after back-to-back aces for Blair and kills from Porter and sophomore middle blocker Angel Summers. The Mustangs kept the Lions from trimming the deficit before recording a 25-17 win in the opening set.

In the second set, Midwestern began to pull away early from MSSU as kills from Blair and Porter gave the Mustangs a 10-5 lead. Freshman middle blocker Kiley Beaver then put together a string of kills that later opened up a 17-9 advantage for the Mustangs.

MSSU (0-5) cut its deficit in half after a block by Monica White made it an 18-14 contest. The Lions crept even closer with kills by Lauren Darby and Callie Whetstone that pulled MSSU within two at 22-20.

However, Porter responded in a veteran way with a kill before assisting on strikes by Beaver and Summers to help the Mustangs to a 25-20 second set win.

With an even game, the Lions looked to avoid the sweep by putting together a 6-2 run to make it a 17-13 contest. Midwestern answered right back as a block from Beaver and a kill from junior defensive specialist Madelyn Johnson pulled the Mustangs back within one.

With the game tied at 19, kills by Porter and Semer along with an ace from freshman libero Matti Dix put the set out of reach for the Lions with the Mustangs recording a 25-19 third set victory and a 3-0 sweep.

Dix and sophomore outside hitter Meghan Bettis tied for a team-high 16 digs while sophomore defensive specialist Morgan Haire also reached double-figures with 12.

For the lions, freshman outside hitter Bridgette Jaeger and senior setter Abby Finder each recorded double-doubles. Jaeger finished with 10 kills and 11 digs while Finder posted 16 assists and 10 digs for MSSU.

Midwestern opens up play Saturday against Newman (Kan.) at 9 a.m. before concluding the Arkansas Tech Tournament against Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) at 1 p.m.