Saturday's match is also part of Missouri State's Tribute to America's Heroes promotion, with $4 adult tickets and $2 children's tickets available on the day of the match to current and former military personnel and first responders.

The Opponents

Southern Illinois is 14-13 and 8-7 in league play. Taylor Pippen leads the MVC in hitting percentage at .414 as one of four Salukis to average at least 2.06 kills per set. SIU hits .218 as a team and lets opponents hit .224 with averages of 12.62 kills, 1.23 aces, 13.85 digs and 2.30 blocks per set.

Evansville is 8-19 overall and 4-11 in MVC matches. The Purple Aces are led by the one-two punch of Ashley Ring and Genesis Miranda, who average 4.06 and 3.45 kills per set, respectively, to rank first and sixth in the league. As a team, UE hits .185 and allows opponents to hit .249 while averaging 12.03 kills, 0.90 aces, 13.10 digs and 2.44 blocks per set.

The Series

The Bears lead SIU 48-17 in the all-time series, winning 17 of the last 20 meetings. Missouri State leads Evansville by a 39-3 margin, losing just twice since 1999.

First Meetings This Season

The Bears earned a pair of sweeps when they visited Evansville and Southern Illinois earlier this season. On Oct. 17 at UE, Olivia Brand led the way with 16 kills on .483 hitting. At SIU the next night, Lily Johnson recorded her sixth double-double of the year with 14 kills and 11 digs in the 3-0 win.