Sept. 7, 2011
SPRINGFIELD -
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Opponents: Kansas State (4-3), Thursday, September 8, 7 p.m.
Arkansas State (4-3), Friday, September 9, 7 p.m.
Hofstra (7-0), Saturday, September 10, 12 p.m.
South Dakota State (6-2), Saturday, September 10, 7:30 p.m.
Site: Hammons Student Center
Location: Springfield, Mo.
Radio: None
Live Audio: None
Live Stats: - - -
Live Video: Bears All-Access
The Missouri State volleyball team begins the home season this weekend by hosting the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational at Hammons Student Center. The Bears (4-2) will play four matches in three days, beginning with a 7 p.m. Thursday contest against Kansas State (4-3) that will be televised live locally on Mediacom 22. Missouri State plays Arkansas State (4-3) at 7 p.m. Friday and takes on Hofstra (7-0) at noon Saturday before closing with South Dakota State (6-2) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Missouri State has won 10 of the last 12 Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitationals, going 38-2 over that span.
The Opponents
Kansas State is 4-3 after its four-match winning streak was snapped against BYU on Saturday. The Wildcats earned a 3-2 victory against Creighton earlier this season, and hit .229 as a team while averaging 13.08 kills per set, 4.54 of those coming from Kaitlynn Pelger. KSU also averages 1.67 aces, 2.12 blocks and 13.00 digs per set.
Arkansas State is 4-3 in seven matches away from Jonesboro. The Red Wolves hit .189 as a team and average 12.45 kills, 14.97 digs, 1.79 blocks and 1.59 aces per set.
Hofstra is unbeaten at 7-0 and has played six of its seven matches at home. The Pride average 13.65 kills per set and hit .220 compared to .125 for the opposition and also post 1.31 aces, 13.77 and 2.73 blocks per set.
South Dakota State is 6-2 on the year under first-year coach Phil McDaniel, who spent the last three seasons leading MVC rival Drake. The Jackrabbits hit .216 as a team with per set averages of 12.17 kills, 1.67 aces, 16.77 digs and 1.50 blocks.
The Series
Missouri State is 22-9 against this year tournament field.
The Bears are 15-5 all-time against KSU with the most recent meeting a 3-0 K-State win in 2005.
Missouri State leads Arkansas State 2-1 and last played the Red Wolves in 2006, a 3-0 MSU victory at the Wynn Invitational.
MSU and Hofstra are tied 3-3 and the Bears won 3-0 last season on Long Island.
Missouri State is 2-0 against South Dakota State, winning each side of a home-and-home in 2007 and 2008.
Coach Melissa Stokes
Missouri State head coach Melissa Stokes (San Diego State, 1991) is 339-157 (.683) in her 16th season at Missouri State. A native of El Cajon, Calif., Stokes has guided Missouri State to an overall record of 262-99 (.726) and 153-45 (.773) in the Missouri Valley Conference since 2000. In 2003, the Bears were the MVC regular-season champions and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1993. MSU made a return trip to the NCAAs in 2005 after winning the MVC Tournament, and advanced to the second round for the first time in program history in 2006. MSU defeated Arkansas before falling to No. 13 Oklahoma in the second round, and has since added postseason bids in 2007, 2008 and 2010.
Stokes came to Missouri State from the University of Idaho, where she helped the Vandals to four straight NCAA Tournament berths. As a setter at San Diego State, Stokes played four seasons and helped the Aztecs to two NCAA appearances. She coached the 300th victory of her Missouri State career against Delaware, Sept. 11, 2009. Stokes ranked 34th among active Division I coaches in win percentage entering 2011.
Quick Hits
• Head coach Melissa Stokes is climbing up the all-time MVC coaching lists in a number of categories. Listed below is the 16th-year coach's ranking in those categories. Lists are compiled based on statistics at Valley schools only:
• Third in total victories with 339
• Second in MVC victories (193)
• Fifth in win percentage overall (.683) and third among active MVC coaches
• Seventh in win percentage in MVC matches only (.715)
• Stokes picked up her 300th career victory with MSU's 3-1 win over Delaware on Sept. 11, 2009, and is three league wins away from tying the MVC record for conference victories at 196 with UNI's Iradge Ahrabi-Fard.
• Missouri State is 17-10 in five-set matches since the beginning of the 2007 season.
• Missouri State has finished in the top four of the MVC standings 12 years in a row. Only UNI can match that streak among league schools.
• MSU is 102-14 the last six seasons when winning set two.
• Missouri State has won at least 20 matches in 12 consecutive seasons, a streak that is currently longer than all but six others nationally.
Six is the Magic Number
The number six has been a milestone number the last 12 years in terms of winning streaks, as the Bears have strung together at least six consecutive wins a total of 16 times since the beginning of the 1999 season.
Homecoming
Missouri State has been dominant at home since 2000, compiling a record of 136-25 for an .845 winning percentage at Hammons Student Center.
The Bears went 12-4 in 2010 and have completed 11 consecutive seasons with four or fewer home losses.
Preseason Poll
Following a 2010 season when the Missouri State volleyball team finished 21-10 and 12-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Bears have been picked to finish fourth in the 2011 MVC race by the league's coaches. UNI is the unanimous choice to repeat as league champions.
Preseason All-Conference
Seniors Kelley Michnowicz and Calli Norman occupy two of the seven spots on this year's preseason all-MVC team. Michnowicz has been an all-conference choice the last two seasons, while Norman is bidding to become the third player in MVC history to make the first team four times.
Players of the Week
Ashley Mason won the league's first Defensive Player of the Week award of the season Aug. 29 after averaging 4.82 digs at the Oklahoma Nike Invitational. She had 18 against Oral Roberts, 10 versus SMU and 25 against 16th-ranked Oklahoma.
