Storylines for the Weekend
1) Missouri State hits the road this weekend when the Bears play at Illinois State (10-12, 3-8 MVC) at 6 p.m. Friday and Bradley (8-15, 4-7) at 5 p.m. Saturday.
2) The Bears have played beyond three sets in 16 of 23 matches this season with nine matches going the distance. MSU is averaging 4.09 sets per match this year and have only eclipsed 4.0 on one other other occasion, the 2020-21 season at 4.18.
3) Senior
Manuela Ibarguen has six matches with 20-plus kills this season, including four in MVC play. Those four came in succession from Oct. 1-14, making her the first MSU player since Joleen Meservy in 1997 with four straight 20-kill matches.
4) The Bears rank 73rd nationally with 15.40 digs per set and 16th in total digs. Those numbers come from a balanced defensive effort with five players averaging at least 1.93 digs per set.
5) Missouri State is hitting .282 over its last four matches and .247 or better in each one after only hitting above .247 once in the first 19 contests of the season.
6) Despite a 4-7 league record, the Bears have a 23-24 record in MVC sets and have an aggregate point score of plus-57 over the opposition, including more total points in three of the team's losses. The Bears have been outscored by more than four total points in a match just twice and are 3-14 in 17 sets decided by two points, including four such fifth sets.
7) Senior
Azyah Green has led MSU in blocking each of her first three seasons and is on pace to do so again this year. All-American Linette White is the last Bear to lead the club three years in a row, doing so in 2001, 2002 and 2003. The last player to lead the team in four consecutive years was Mindy Struckhoff from 1985-88. Green ranks 12th in school history with 440 career blocks and 11th with a 1.07 per set average. Both totals are the highest for any player who played exclusively in the 25-point scoring era (since 2008).
8) MSU has notched the top two ace averages since the 25-point scoring era began in the last two seasons, posting 1.61 per set in 2020-21 and 1.38 last season, and this year's average sits between those at 1.59. The 2022 MSU roster has served a combined 277 aces in the Maroon and White, and the Bears rank 22nd nationally this season with 149 total aces.
Series Histories
Missouri State has squared off with Illinois State more than any other school, and holds a 55-53 series lead in 108 all-time meetings.
   The Bears hold a 57-14 series edge with Bradley, though the Braves have won six of the last eight meetings.
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