Oct. 17, 2012
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Opponents:
Evansville - Friday, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
S. Illinois - Saturday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m.
Site:
Friday - Carson Center
Saturday - Davies Gym
Location:
Friday - Evansville, Ind.
Saturday - Carbondale, Ill.
Live Audio: Evansville -- SIU
Live Stats: Evansville --
Live Video: Evansville -- SIU
Missouri State (11-10, 5-4 Missouri Valley Conference) starts its second time through the Missouri Valley Conference schedule this week with matches at Evansville (Friday, 7 p.m.) and Southern Illinois (Saturday, 7 p.m.)
The Bears defeated both clubs in Springfield earlier this season on the way to posting a winning record through nine MVC matches for the 14th consecutive season.
The Opponents
Evansville is 7-15 and 2-7 in league play with home wins over and Indiana State and Drake to its credit in MVC matches.
The Purple Aces hit .166 as a team compared to .230 for opponents and average 11.87 kills, 0.96 aces, 15.82 digs and 2.19 blocks per set.
Southern Illinois is 16-4 overall, 6-3 in MVC play and 9-0 at home this season. The Salukis lead the conference with a .257 team hitting percentage and limit opponents to .163. As a team, SIU averages 13.92 kills, 1.32 aces, 15.56 digs and 2.52 digs per set.
The Series
Missouri State leads Evansville by a 36-2 margin, losing just one time since 1999. The Bears lead SIU 46-15 in the all-time series, winning the last five and 15 of the last 16 meetings.
First Meetings This Season
Missouri State beat Evansville 3-0 on Sept. 22 in Springfield. Amber Doolittle hit .667 with 11 kills and five blocks and the Bears hit .339 as a team.
The Bears defeated SIU 3-1 on Sept. 21 to snap the Salukis' 11-match winning streak. Carly Thomas posted a triple-double with 12 kills, 53 assists and 15 digs, and Kaitlin Jaeger had 16 kills on .519 hitting.
Last Week
Missouri State split a pair of four set matches at home last week.
In non-conference action Monday, Olivia Brand had 15 kills and the Bears stifled one of the nation's top statistical offenses in handing Central Arkansas just its second loss in 21 matches in 3-1 fashion.
Friday, the Bears took the first set from Wichita State but lost the next three. Andrea Beaty had 14 kills and six blocks while MSU was without Kaitlin Jaeger due to injury.
