WICHITA, Kan. ? Wichita State used solid play at the net and served up 12 aces in four games, defeating Bradley 30-16, 30-15, 28-30, 30-15 Friday in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams.

Freshman Alex Starks (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) had a season-high 12 kills, while senior Nikki Pierzchala (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview) added eight kills to lead the Braves offensively. 

Wichita State (7-3 overall, 1-0 MVC) served up 12 aces and had 15 blocks while limiting Bradley to an .087 attack percentage.  The Shockers also owned a 58-48 edge in digs in the match.

Bradley (1-10 overall, 0-1 MVC) hit -.114 in the first game, in part because of seven Wichita State blocks.  The Braves and Shockers were tied at 9-9, before Wichita State used an 11-2 run to take control of the game and cruise to a 30-16 victory.

Wichita State used a potent offense in the second game, hitting .395 in a 30-15 win.  Bradley trailed 10-8 after a Shocker error, but Wichita State would use a 13-3 run to take a 22-11 lead en route to a second game victory.

Starks helped spark the Braves to a third-game victory, posting six kills and hitting .500 in the third frame.  Bradley scored the first five points of the game and led by as many as nine points (14-5).  Wichita State would chip away at the Braves lead and eventually jump in front, taking a 26-22 advantage. 

A Shocker service error was followed by a Starks kill to pull the Braves to within 26-24.  Starks notched another kill after a Wichita State point and freshman Emily Austin (St. Louis, Mo./Oakville) served up an ace to pull Bradley to within one point at 27-26.  The teams traded points again before Starks added her sixth kill of the game and junior Sam Black (Atalissa, Iowa/West Liberty) added one of her own to put the Braves in front 29-28.  Starks and freshman Caitlin Staib teamed for a block on the next play to put the finishing touches on a 30-28 Bradley win.

Bradley kept pace with Wichita in the early going of game four, before the Shockers scored eight consecutive points to take a 15-7 lead.  A 6-2 Shockers spurt put Wichita State ahead 21-9 as WSU closed out the match with a 30-15 win.  The Braves hit -.033 in game four, while Wichita State hit .387.

Black posted her third double-double of the year finishing with team highs of 18 assists and 12 digs.

Emily Stockman led Wichita State with 18 kills and 15 digs, while hitting at a .351 clip.  Angela Jakubov added 16 kills and seven blocks while boasting a .448 attack percentage.

Bradley returns to action Saturday at 7 p.m. against Missouri State in Springfield, Mo.