Missouri State (16-5, 8-0 MVC) vs. Bradley, Illinois State
Dates and Times	Oct. 20, 7 p.m. vs. Bradley (8-15, 1-8) Oct. 21, 7 p.m. vs. Illinois State (13-9, 6-3)
Location	Springfield, Mo.
Site	Hammons Student Center
ESPN3	Bradley | Illinois State
Live Stats	Sidearm Stats
Missouri State	Game Notes | Volleyball Home Page
Bradley	Volleyball Home Page
Illinois State	Volleyball Home Page
Promotions	Friday - Staff/faculty appreciation | Hawaiian theme
**Parking**	Due to a concert at JQH Arena Saturday evening, fans are encouraged to arrive early and tell parking lot attendants they are attending the volleyball match.

After earning a pair of big road wins to take over sole possession of first place in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Missouri State volleyball team (16-5, 8-0) comes home this week to take on Bradley (8-15, 1-8) at 7 p.m. Friday and Illinois State (13-9, 6-3) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Hammons Student Center. 
    The Bears look to start 9-0 in league play for the first time since 2003 against Bradley on Friday, then welcome back MSU volleyball alum Leah Johnson Saturday as the first-year head coach of the Redbirds brings her team to Springfield for the 100th meeting between the schools.

The Opponents
Bradley is 8-15 overall and 1-8 in MVC play. Erica Haslag leads the Braves and ranks second in the MVC with 4.24 kills per set, and BU hits .202 as a team compared to .212 for the opposition with averages of 13.62 kills, 0.82 aces, 18.01 digs and 1.84 blocks per set.    
    Illinois State has won its last four matches to improve to 13-9 overall and 6-3 in Valley matches. Three-time All-American Jaelyn Keene paces ISU with 3.94 kills per set on .323 hitting, and Courtney Pence ranks third nationally with a 6.08 dig average. The Redbirds hit .200 as a team with a league-best .152 opponent efficiency, and average 13.61 kills, 1.18 aces, 18.39 digs and 1.81 blocks per set.

Series Histories
MSU holds a 54-8 series edge with Bradley and has won 33 of the last 34 meetings with the Braves, the loss coming in Peoria in 2008. Since then, MSU has won the last 17 matches in the series.
    Missouri State has squared off with Illinois State more than any other school, and holds a 52-47 series lead in 99 all-time meetings. The Bears are 28-13 against ISU since 2001.

First Meetings This Season
MSU hit a season-high .394 in a 3-1 win on Sept. 23 at Bradley, led by Lynsey Wright's 20 kills on .469 hitting and 19 kills and 20 digs from Lily Johnson.
    The Bears earned a 3-2 win on Sept. 22 at Illinois State after dropping the first set. Johnson became the MVC's career kills leader early in the match, and Emily Butters finished with 30 digs.

Last Week
Missouri State earned road wins over the Valley's other two co-leaders, winning 3-2 at Drake and 3-1 at No. 20 UNI. Friday, the Bears set school records for digs (153) and attacks (266) in a match, led by Lily Johnson's 28-kill, 32-dig performance and 44 digs from Emily Butters. Saturday, Johnson added 22 more kills, including 12 in an error-free fourth set, the lead the Bears to their second top-20 road win of the season.