Storylines for the Bradley Series
1) Missouri State (12-5, 8-4 Missouri Valley Conference) enters the home stretch of the regular season schedule in the thick of the league race, and hosts first-place Bradley (10-4, 10-4) Sunday at 2 p.m. and Monday at 5 p.m. at Hammons Student Center.
2) MSU started 9-1 overall to join the 2000 and 1993 clubs as the only three in MSU's Division I era (since 1982) to win nine of their first 10 matches.
3) The Bears average 1.65 aces per set, on pace for the best figure since 1992 and well ahead of the 2003 club's 1.47 average that ranks as the best in the rally scoring era. Missouri State has six matches with 10-plus aces already this year, the most since the 1990 team also did that six times.
4) MSU has served 40 more aces than the opposition with 57 fewer service errors, resulting in a 97-point difference. The Bears have served more aces than the opposition in 11 of 17 matches, and more aces than errors 12 times.
5) Missouri State has locked up an overall winning record for the 21st time in the last 22 seasons.
6) Underclassmen have accounted for 69 percent of MSU's point total this season, and all but one of the Bears' 1,117 points this year have been scored by non-seniors.
7) Missouri State head coach
Steven McRoberts enters the weekend with 599 career victories, one away from becoming the 19th active Division I coach in the 600-club.
The Opponent
Bradley is 10-4 overall and in MVC play and sits atop the MVC standings with two weeks remaining. Preseason all-Valley selection Hannah Thompson averages 3.63 kills and 5.35 digs per set to help the Braves ranked second nationally in dig average at 21.47. Bradley hits .200 as a team, allows opponents to hit .172, and averages 13.92 kills, 1.22 aces and 2.35 blocks per set.
Series History
The Bears hold a 56-11 series edge with Bradley and snapped a three-game win streak by the Braves with a win in Springfield last season. Prior to that, Missouri State won 18 consecutive meetings.
