The Missouri State volleyball team faces a stiff test at the HotelRED Invitational in Madison, Wis., this week, as the Bears take on Ball State at 4:30 p.m. Friday, No. 4 Wisconsin at noon on Saturday and Miami (Fla.) at 5 p.m. Saturday. Both of Saturday's opponents played in the NCAA Tournament last season, with UW advancing to the championship match, and Ball State is picked to win its division of the Mid-American Conference this year.

Missouri State's match with Wisconsin marks the first top-10 opponent for the Bears since 2008. That season, MSU defeated ninth-ranked Wichita State in the MVC Tournament, and including a 2003 win over No. 10 UNI and losses to No. 3 UCLA in 2004 and No. 8 Florida in 2005, the Bears are 2-2 in their last four matches against top-10 opposition.

The Opponents

Ball State is 3-3 on the year and favored to win the Mid-American Conference West Division this season. The Cardinals are led by all-MAC middle hitter Hayley Benson, who averages 2.86 kills and 1.18 blocks while hitting .374 this year. As a team, BSU hits .156 compared to .214 for opponents and averages 11.86 kills, 12.14 digs, 1.14 aces and 2.20 blocks per set.

Wisconsin is 5-0 and carries a No. 4 national ranking a year after losing in the NCAA title match. Led by a pair of All-Americans in setter Lauren Carlini and outside hitter Ellen Chapman, the Badgers are hitting .300 as a team with averages of 16.06 kills, 1.35 aces, 15.24 digs and 1.94 blocks per set this season.

Miami is 4-2 this season and predicted to finish fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hurricanes advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2013 and are led this season by preseason all-ACC picks Savanah Leaf and Emani Sims. As a team, Miami hits .275 and holds opponents to .189 while averaging 14.00 kills, 1.71 aces, 14.05 digs and 2.48 blocks per set.

The Series

Missouri State is 1-1 all-time against Ball State with a win in 1977 and a loss in 1982.

The Bears own a 4-1 series lead over Wisconsin, winning four times from 1976-84 and losing most recent meeting in 1995.

MSU and Miami have never played in volleyball. The Bears won their most recent match against an ACC opponent, topping North Carolina in 2010.