Oct. 4, 2011
SPRINGFIELD -
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Opponents: Creighton (10-7, 5-0), Friday, October 7, 7 p.m.
Drake (6-12, 2-3), Saturday, October 8, 7 p.m.
Site: Hammons Student Center
Location: Springfield, Mo.
Radio: KBFL 99.9 FM
TV: None
Live Stats: --
Live Video: Bears All-Access
The Missouri State volleyball team (11-5, 4-1 Missouri Valley Conference) comes back to Hammons Student Center this weekend for matches with Creighton (10-7, 5-0) at 7 p.m. Friday and Drake (6-12, 2-3) at 7 p.m. Saturday. Creighton is one of two remaining unbeaten teams in MVC play.
The Opponents
Creighton is 10-7 overall and 5-0 in MVC play after winning eight of its last nine matches since a 2-6 start.
The Bluejays hit .202 as a team compared to .165 for opponents and average 12.87 kills, 1.43 aces, 17.70 digs and 2.49 blocks per set. Five players in the regular rotation average better than two kills per set.
Drake is 6-12 overall and 2-3 in the league under first-year head coach Tony Sunga. DU's league wins have come against Evansville and Indiana State.
The Bulldogs hit .136 as a team and opponents hit .199. Drake averages 11.90 kills, 0.82 aces, 16.42 digs and 2.19 blocks per set.
The Series
Missouri State is a combined 75-16 all-time against this week's opponents. MSU is 28-7 against Creighton, winning three of the last four meetings after CU snapped MSU's 19-match winning streak in the series in 2007 with a three-match streak of its own.
Missouri State is 47-9 against Drake after the Bulldogs ended the Bears' 22-match winning streak in Springfield in 2010.
Last Week
Missouri State won 3-1 at Bradley Friday and lost 3-0 Saturday at 14th-ranked UNI.
Against Bradley, Carly Thomas had eight kills, 46 assists and 13 digs to help Coach Stokes to her MVC record 197th career conference win.
Saturday at UNI, the Bears were held to a season-low .076 hitting percentage in the sweep. Karen Rivatto with 11 was the only Bear with more than seven kills.
