Sept. 26, 2012

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Opponents:
UNI - Friday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m.
Bradley - Saturday, Sept. 29, 7 p.m.
Site:
Friday - McLeod Center
Saturday - Renaissance Coliseum
Location:
Friday - Cedar Falls, Iowa
Saturday - Peoria, Ill.
Radio: Friday - 1330 AM in Cedar Falls
Live Stats: UNI -- Bradley
Live Video: UNI -- Bradley

Missouri State (8-7, 3-1 Missouri Valley Conference) returns to the road this week with the annual trip to UNI and Bradley. The Bears, winners of three straight matches, take on UNI (11-5, 3-0) at 7 p.m. Friday before heading southeast for a 7 p.m. Saturday contest against Bradley (6-8, 0-3) in Peoria.

The Opponents
UNI is 11-5 overall and 3-0 in MVC play. The Panthers have won 57 consecutive regular-season conference matches and 63 straight versus MVC opponents, their last loss coming to Missouri State in the 2008 MVC Tournament final. The Bears have also provided the greatest challenge during UNI's streak, losing in five sets after a 2-0 lead in Springfield a year ago.
The Panthers hit .225 as a team and hold opponents to .169 with averages of 13.79 kills, 0.98 aces, 16.46 digs and 2.52 blocks per set.
Bradley is 6-8 overall and 0-3 in conference matches. The Braves hit .195 as a team compared to .227 for opponents and average 12.53 kills, 1.04 aces, 14.40 digs and 1.85 blocks per set.

The Series
The all-time series with UNI is 43-19 in favor of the Panthers. UNI has won the last six meetings after the Bears won six of 13 from 2004-08.
Missouri State holds a 43-8 series edge with Bradley and has won 22 of the last 23 meetings with the Braves, the loss coming in Peoria in 2008.

Last Week
Missouri State earned a pair of home victories, beginning Friday with a 3-1 win to snap Southern Illinois' 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.
Saturday, Amber Doolittle hit .667 with 11 kills and five blocks and the Bears hit .339 as a team in a sweep of Evansville.