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Opponents:
Furman - Friday, August 28, 4:30 p.m.
Western Michigan - Saturday, August 29, 10:30 a.m.
Milwaukee - Saturday, August 29, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Milwaukee, Wis.
Site: Klotsche Center
Live Stats: www.MKEPanthers.com
Live Video: www.ESPN3.com (Milwaukee match only)

The Missouri State volleyball team begins the 2015 season this week with three matches at the Pepsi Panther Invitational in Milwaukee, Wis. The Bears, who are coming off their 15th 20-win season in the last 16 years, open the campaign at 4:30 p.m. Friday against defending Southern Conference champion Furman.
Missouri State takes on Western Michigan at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and concludes tournament play with host Milwaukee at 7:30 p.m. that evening.
The Bears, picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference in 2015, will make their home debut on Sept. 4 in the annual Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational, hosting Miami (Fla.), Oral Roberts and Marquette in the event.
MSU also hosts Arkansas State on Sept. 9 before spending the next two weekends on the road. The Bears MVC play at home on Sept. 25 against defending champion Illinois State.

The Opponents
Furman is the preseason favorite to repeat as Southern Conference champion after going 23-7 in 2014. The Paladins placed three players on the league's preseason all-conference squad in outside hitter Annie Bierman, libero Meg DeMaar, and setter Jo Wilks.
Western Michigan is coming off a Mid-American Tournament title and NCAA appearance in 2014 after finishing 22-14 overall. The Broncos are a very young squad, with one senior and three juniors, including outside Alysia Baznik, who had 403 kills last season.
Milwaukee went 17-14 last season and finished second in the Horizon League with a 10-4 mark. The veteran Panthers have nine juniors and seniors on the roster, led by all-Horizon setter Kayla Price.

The Series
Missouri State and Furman meet for the first time in volleyball on Friday.
The Bears lead Western Michigan 4-1 in the all-time series, though a 3-1 loss to the Broncos in 2012 is the only match between the schools in the last three decades.
MSU earned a sweep of Milwaukee in Springfield last season in the only meeting in the series.