Missouri State (17-7, 8-2 Missouri Valley Conference) returns to Hammons Student Center this weekend to host Drake (13-11, 4-6) at 7 p.m. Friday and UNI (17-7, 8-3) at 7 p.m. Saturday.
   The Bears have won eight consecutive matches and took over a share of first place in the league standings with Wichita State after picking up a 3-1 road win against the Shockers on Friday.
   MSU is holding opponents to a .147 attack efficiency during its current win streak while hitting .259 as a team and surrendering only 20 aces in 31 sets.
  Â
The Opponents
Drake is 13-11 overall and 4-6 in league play. Kyla Inderski leads the Bulldogs with 3.17 kills per set, and Drake hits .193 as a team while limiting the opposition to a .189 attack efficiency. DU averages 12.65 kills, 1.24 aces, 17.08 digs and 2.05 blocks per set.Â
   UNI is 17-7 overall and 8-3 in MVC matches. The Panthers have notable non-conference victories over Kentucky and Iowa State, and hit .225 as a team compared to .169 for opponents with averages of 14.40 kills, 1.18 aces, 2.16 blocks and an NCAA-leading 18.31 digs per set. Kayla Haneline averages 3.32 kills and 0.86 blocks per set with a .350 attack efficiency as a preseason all-MVC pick for UNI.
  Â
The Series
MSU is 58-9 against Drake and has won 34 of the last 35 meetings, the exception being a loss in Springfield in 2010.Â
   The all-time series with UNI is 49-22 in favor of the Panthers. MSU has won the last two meetings after UNI won 12 of 13.
  Â
First Meetings This Season
The Bears picked up a pair of 3-2 road wins in the season's first meetings. MSU finished September by edging the Panthers 15-13 in the fifth set after taking a 2-0 lead.
Lily Johnson had 25 kills, and five Bears had at least 10 digs.
   On Oct. 1 at Drake, Johnson swatted a career-high 33 kills, including eight in the fifth set. Freshman
Daniele Messa finished with 54 assists and 20 digs, and
Aubrey Cheffey added a career-high 12 kills on .435 hitting.
Â
