Missouri State (4-2) at Pepperdine Asics Classic
Dates and Times	Sept. 8, 12 p.m. vs. #8 Washington (5-1) Sept. 8, 7 p.m. vs. Wyoming (3-3) Sept. 9, 6:30 p.m. at Pepperdine (4-2)
Location	Malibu, Calif.
Site	Firestone Fieldhouse
Live Video	Washington | Wyoming | Pepperdine
Live Stats	Washington | Wyoming | Pepperdine
Missouri State	Game Notes | Volleyball Home Page
Washington	Volleyball Home Page
Wyoming	Volleyball Home Page
Pepperdine	Volleyball Home Page

The Missouri State volleyball team (4-2) continues its rigorous non-conference schedule in California this week with three matches at the Pepperdine Asics Classic.
    The Bears open play at noon Central Friday against eighth-ranked Washington, and also take on Wyoming at 7 p.m. Friday before facing the host Waves at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
    Missouri State, which received 10 votes in this week's AVCA Poll to check in at the No. 31 spot, is the near unanimous favorite to repeat as Missouri Valley Conference champions in 2017. The Bears open the home slate with the annual Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational Sept. 14-16, hosting Illinois, Washington State, Chattanooga and Tennessee State.

The Opponents
Washington is 5-1 on the year and ranked eighth in the latest AVCA Poll. The Huskies return all six starters from last season's 29-5 club that advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight, and is picked to win the Pac-12 this season. As a team, UW hits .301 and allows a .199 attack efficiency with averages of 14.26 kills, 1.63 aces, 12.68 digs and 3.58 blocks per set.    Friday, Sept. 8, 5 p.m. 
    Wyoming is 3-3 overall with wins against South Dakota, Eastern Michigan and Jacksonville and a five-set home loss to No. 21 Purdue. The Cowgirls are picked to finish fourth in the Mountain West this season and return the bulk of a team that went 18-13 in 2016. Wyoming hits .233 as a team and averages 12.62 kills, 1.25 aces, 12.25 digs and 2.54 blocks per set.
    Pepperdine is 4-2 on the year and is predicted to finish sixth in the West Coast Conference in 2017. Jasmine Gross is a preseason all-WCC middle blocker and hits a team-high .362. As a team, the Waves hit .232 compared to a .189 for the opposition with averages of 13.96 kills, 1.65 aces, 16.43 digs and 2.20 blocks per set.

Series Histories
Missouri State and Wyoming have played once, with the Cowgirls winning 3-0 in the 1985 Montana State Classic.
    The Bears are 1-4 all-time versus Washington, with just one meeting in the last 30 years, a 3-0 UW win in 2002. Ironically, MSU's win against the Huskies came in the 1985 Montana State Classic.
    MSU is 0-1 against Pepperdine, losing in three sets in the first round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament in Malibu.