SPRINGFIELD -- Missouri State will play the first home beach volleyball match in school history Thursday afternoon, hosting Ottawa University at 3 p.m. at the Betty & Bobby Allison Sand Volleyball Courts on the MSU campus.

Scouting the Bears
Missouri State is 6-6 overall and owns a .467 winning percentage in individual matches. Three different pairs own a winning record, led by Caroline Finnell and Sarah Demmer's 7-4 record primarily at the No. 4 spot. Sam Brinkmann and Mikaela Mosquera own the distinction of picking up the school's first ever victory, March 2 at Nebraska, and are 7-5 on the year, with 10 of those matches in the third flight. Lynsey Wright and Ivy Reynolds also have seven victories, all coming at the fifth position.

The Opponent
Ottawa is 0-4 in its first season, playing all four matches at Texas A&M-Kingsville's tournament on March 17 and 18.

Attending the Match
Spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, etc., for limited seating on the mound inside the fence at the facility. Fans can also watch from outside the fence at the Allison Sand Courts, which are located on the northeast corner of Holland Ave. and Bear Boulevard.

About Beach Volleyball
There are more than 60 NCAA varsity beach volleyball programs across the nation, with several schools slated to add the sport in the near future. 
     A match is two sets to 21 points with a 15-point third set if needed, and all sets are rally scoring. Each school divides its roster into five teams of two players each (10 total players will compete for each school in a match), and the winner is the school that captures three of the five matches between the two-player teams. 

Up Next
The Bears are winding down their first season, with only the Maroon and White Scrimmage on April 6 and a four-match trip to South Carolina on April 13-14 remaining in the regular season.