Houston native and Missouri State University senior Ashley Kell had 49 assists to help the Lady Bears upset No. 24 Northern Iowa 25-23, 14-25, 25-22, 25-23 Saturday.
It was the second time in two years the Bears (15-7, 6-3 Missouri Valley Conference) upset UNI at Hammons Student Center. MSU has won three consecutive matches and seven of its last eight.
Kell easily leads the Bears with 740 assists – Julia Cawthra is second with 169 – and is averaging 9.25 per set. She also ranks among the team leaders with 11 aces and 27 kills in the team’s 22 matches.
The Bears, who pulled one game behind NIU to second in the MVC standings, have another critical week ahead. They play host to Drake at 7 p.m. Friday before a key match against Creighton at 6 p.m. Saturday.