Sept. 4, 2012
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Opponents:
#22 Kansas State - Wed., Sept. 5, 6 p.m.
UConn - Fri., Sept. 7, 7:30 p.m.
New Orleans - Sat., Sept. 8, 12 p.m.
Northern Illinois - Sat., Sept. 8, 7:30 p.m.
Site: Wed. - Ahearn Fieldhouse -- Fri.-Sat. - Hammons Student Center
Location: Wed. - Manhattan, Kan. -- Fri.-Sat. - Springfield, Mo.
Live Stats: -- -- --
Live Video: Bears All-Access
Missouri State continues its busy non-conference schedule with four matches this week, beginning Wednesday at 6 p.m. with a visit to 22nd-ranked Kansas State.
The Bears are home again for the weekend to host the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn/Doubletree Hotel Invitational at Hammons Student Center.
Missouri State welcomes Connecticut, Nebraska-Omaha, New Orleans and Northern Illinois to Springfield for the nine-match event. MSU plays UConn at 7:30 p.m. Friday, takes on New Orleans at noon Saturday, and finishes with Northern Illinois at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Opponents
Kansas State is 6-0 on the season and ranked 22nd in the latest AVCA poll. The Wildcats, who advanced to the NCAA Round of 16 in 2011, have been pushed beyond three sets just once this season, including a sweep of Creighton last week. KSU hits .272 as a team and holds opponents to .148 while serving up 1.65 aces per set.
UConn was 3-3 before its Tuesday match at Hartford, with victories over UC Santa Barbara, Dartmouth and Fairfield.
New Orleans was 2-2 before a Wednesday match with Alcorn State. The Privateers are back in NCAA Division I this season after contemplating moves downward in recent years.
Northern Illinois was 3-4 prior to its Tuesday match with Illinois-Chicago. The Huskies went 28-7 in 2011 and finished 17th in the RPI.
Nebraska-Omaha was 3-3 before its Tuesday home match with Syracuse, recording victories against Hartford, Norfolk State and Navy. UNO and the Bears do not play this week.
The Series
Missouri State and UConn have played once previously, in 1973, with no score available in MSU's records. The Bears are 13-7 all-time against current members of the Big East.
Saturday's match will mark the first time MSU has played New Orleans in volleyball.
The Bears and NIU have played three times historically, though not since 1992, with the Huskies owning a 2-1 record.
