SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State will begin its spring exhibition volleyball schedule Saturday, March 25, in a tournament at SIU Edwardsville in the first of four competition dates, including two at Hammons Student Center.

The Bears play Eastern Illinois, Saint Louis and SIUE on March 25, host Oral Roberts, Drury and Missouri State-West Plains on April 1, head to Kansas City for four matches on April 8, and entertain Arkansas in the April 20 finale. Home matches are free to attend and open to the public.

Missouri State returns the bulk of its roster from last season's Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship team that finished 26-9 overall and qualified for a second consecutive NCAA Tournament.

In all, 15 of 18 players are back from the 2016 squad, headlined by a strong senior class that includes Lily Johnson (three-time AVCA All-American), Lynsey Wright (Second-team all-MVC in 2016), Brianne Dixon (two-time MVC Elite 18 winner), and Lauren Boone (career .229 hitter in 84 matches).

The Bears boast a six-player junior class with a combined 248 career matches played, including Emily Butters, Caroline Finnell, MacKenzie Irwin, Mikaela Mosquera, Ashley Ophoven and Cambree Villarreal. Butters became the first sophomore in school history with 1,000 career digs last season.

Daniele Messa is the reigning MVC Freshman of the Year and dished out more than 1,300 assists last season to lead a talented 2016 freshman class that included Aubrey Cheffey, Laynie Dake, Julia Hanson and Gerri Idos. Ashley Dudenhoeffer, a two-time all-state setter from Jefferson City, Mo., joined the Bears this spring and has four seasons of eligibility remaining. Missouri State also received a National Letter of Intent from 6-foot Minnesota native Alyssa Doucette, who will be a freshman on next year's roster. 

For match results, check the volleyball schedule page at www.MissouriStateBears.com.

SIUE Tournament (Edwardsville, Ill.)
March 25 vs. Eastern Illinois, 11 a.m.
March 25 vs. Saint Louis, 12 p.m.
March 25 at SIUE, 2 p.m.
    
MSU Tournament (Springfield)
All matches at Hammons Student Center, free admission
April 1 vs. Drury, 11 a.m.
April 1 vs. Missouri State-West Plains, 12 p.m.
April 1 vs. Oral Roberts, 2 p.m.

Kansas State/UMKC Tournament (Kansas City, Mo.)
April 8 vs. Omaha, 11 a.m.
April 8 vs. Kansas State, 12 p.m.
April 8 vs. UMKC, 1:30 p.m.
April 8 vs. Kansas, 2:30 p.m.
    
April 20 vs. Arkansas, 6 p.m. at Hammons Student Center, free admission