Missouri State (11-10, 4-4 MVC) at Bradley, Illinois State
Dates and Times	Oct. 19, 7 p.m. at Bradley (16-5, 6-3) Oct. 20, 7 p.m. at Illinois State (16-5, 8-1)
Locations	Peoria, Ill. | Normal, Ill.
Sites	Renaissance Coliseum | Redbird Arena
ESPN Stream	Bradley ($) | Illinois State ($)
Live Stats	Bradley | Illinois State
Missouri State	Match Notes | Volleyball Home Page
Bradley	Volleyball Home Page
Illinois State	Volleyball Home Page

Missouri State begins a four-match road trip this weekend when the Bears (11-10, 4-4 Missouri Valley Conference) journey to Bradley at 7 p.m. Friday and Illinois State at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The Opponents
Illinois State is 16-5 with an 8-1 MVC record halfway through the league schedule under second-year head coach Leah Johnson, who played for MSU from 2000-03. Five Redbirds average between 2.11 and 2.77 kills per set, and preseason all-MVC pick Courtney Pence averages 5.79 digs and is the only active NCAA player with more career digs than MSU's Emily Butters. As a team, ISU hits .241 and yields a .156 figure with averages of 14.04 kills, 17.36 digs, 2.23 blocks and 1.18 aces per set.
    Bradley is 16-5 and 6-3 in MVC play, and has yet to be swept this season. Erica Haslag averages 3.81 kills per set on .253 hitting as a preseason all-MVC pick, and the Braves hit .211 as a team compared to .158 for opponents. Bradley averages 13.55 kills, 18.82 digs, 1.85 blocks and 1.38 aces per set.

Series Histories
The Bears hold a 55-9 series edge with Bradley, and had an 18-match win streak in the series snapped on Sept. 22 in Springfield.
    Missouri State has squared off with Illinois State more than any other school, and holds a 53-48 series lead in 101 all-time meetings. The Bears are 29-14 against ISU since 2001.     

First Meetings This Season
Missouri State opened MVC play on Sept. 21 with a 3-0 loss to Illinois State in Springfield. The Redbirds hit .355 as a team and piled up 49 kills to end MSU's 34-match conference winning streak.
    Bradley won 3-1 in Springfield on Sept. 22 in a match that saw all four sets decided by three points or fewer. Emily Butters had 33 of MSU's season-high 99 digs in that contest.