The Missouri State volleyball team heads to Iowa this week to face the MVC's other two unbeaten clubs as the Valley has seen an unprecedented three schools win their first six league matches. The Bears take on Drake (17-3, 6-0) at 7 p.m. Friday and No. 20 UNI (16-4, 6-0) at 7 p.m. Saturday, and bring win streaks of seven matches overall, 22 consecutive regular-season MVC matches, 16 overall road wins and 15 MVC road victories with them to Iowa.
The Opponents
Drake is off to its best start in decades with a 17-3 overall record and 6-0 MVC mark after winning its last 10 matches. The Bulldogs are led by senior outside hitter Kyla Inderski, who averages 3.38 kills and 3.49 digs per set, and hit .210 as a team compared to .165 for the opposition. The Bulldogs average 13.37 kills, 1.12 aces, 18.21 digs and 1.86 blocks per set.
   UNI is ranked 20th in the most recent AVCA Coaches Poll, and is 16-4 overall and 6-0 in conference play with four top-25 wins on the season. Karlie Taylor, Piper Thomas and Bri Weber all average at least 3.3 kills per set for the Panthers, who hit .244 as a team and hold opponents to a .173 efficiency with averages of 14.86 kills, 1.09 aces, 18.38 digs and 1.82 blocks per set.
Series Histories
MSU is 59-9 against Drake and has won 35 of the last 36 meetings, the exception being a loss in Springfield in 2010.
   The all-time series with UNI is 49-23 in favor of the Panthers. MSU has won the last three meetings, including its first win in Cedar Falls since 1990 last year, after UNI won 13 of 14.
Â