Week 7 Storylines
1) Missouri State hits the Valley road this weekend for matches at Valparaiso at 6 p.m. Friday and Loyola at 4 p.m. Saturday.
2) Missouri State begins the conference slate against the league's five schools that played in either the NCAA Tournament or NIVC last year, facing Illinois State, Bradley, UNI, Drake and Valpo out of the gate.
3) The Bears take a significant winning streak in the state of Indiana into Friday's match at Valparaiso. Missouri State has been victorious in its last 15 matches in the Hoosier State, last losing at Evansville on Oct. 19, 2012.
4) MSU's sophomore class leads the Bears in most statistical categories this season, ranking 1-2-3 in kill average (
Amelia Flynn,
Sarabi Worsley-Gilbert,
Chloe Rear), 1-3-5 in total kills (Rear, Flynn, Worsley-Gilbert), 1 in assists (Rear), 1-2 in digs (
Leah Vokolek, Rear), and 1-2 in aces (Rear, Vokolek). Meanwhile, freshman
Azyah Green leads the Bears in total blocks.
5) Missouri State has been decimated by injury this season, with six players missing a total of 62 matches so far for health reasons. The Bears have dressed out no more than 11 players for any match.
6) With 1.31 per set, the Bears are on pace for their highest ace average during the 25-point scoring era (since 2008). MSU has two matches this year with double-digit ace totals.
The Opponents
Valparaiso is 6-12 overall and 1-3 in MVC play after snapping a six-game losing streak in its last match. The Crusaders, who won 27 matches last season, hit .156 as a team and allow a .210 efficiency with averages of 12.31 kills, 1.22 aces, 16.91 digs and 1.82 blocks per set.
   Loyola is 11-6 overall and 4-0 in league play, with eight wins in its last nine matches. The Ramblers lead the MVC in aces (1.69/set), blocks (2.34/set) and both offensive (.229) and defensive hitting percentage (.172), and average 13.43 kills and 16.17 digs. Taylor Venuto and Addie Barnes each average more than three kills per set for LUC.
Series Histories
Missouri State is 5-2 all-time against Valpo. The Bears won the first five meetings in the series before the Crusaders topped MSU by 3-2 finals twice in six days last November, one in Valparaiso and the other in Springfield in the MVC Tournament quarterfinal.
   The Bears are 12-2 against Loyola, with a 6-1 in mark in Chicago. The teams split last season with each winning at home.
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