SPRINGFIELD -- The Missouri State volleyball team will take the Hammons Student Center court twice this week in a variety of exhibition formats, first with a 3:30 p.m. Wednesday contest against Nebraska Omaha, followed by the annual Maroon and White Scrimmage on Saturday at 7 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.

MSU's Wednesday match with Omaha will be the Bears' first preseason exhibition against another Division I school after a recently-instituted NCAA rule allowing such matches to occur. 

The Bears begin regular season competition at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 24 at College of Charleston, and will also play Alabama and Western Kentucky at Charleston's tournament. The annual Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational takes place the following weekend, with MSU welcoming Ball State, Grambling State and Oral Roberts to Hammons on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.

The 2018 season is the 23rd under head coach Melissa Stokes. Stokes has guided the Bears to a 492-228 mark since taking over in 1996, and the team has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 10 of the last 15 seasons while reaching the 20-win mark 18 times in the last 19 years.

Fans interested in purchasing or inquiring about season tickets to see the Bears at Hammons Student Center this fall should call Duane Miller at (417) 836-8899 or visit the ticket page at MissouriStateBears.com/tickets.