Storylines for the Mizzou Invitational
1) Missouri State heads north to Columbia this weekend for the Mizzou Invitational, where the Bears will play Northwestern State, Missouri and Abilene Christian. Friday's match between MSU and MU will be the first regular season meeting between the schools since 1998.
2) The Bears will play their next 11 matches away from home beginning with the Mizzou Invitational, the longest streak since 14 straight to end the 2016 season and start 2017. The last time MSU had an in-season stretch away from Springfield this long was 12 in a row to begin the 1989 campaign.
3) Missouri State is 14-6 in non-conference matches under third-year head coach
Steven McRoberts.
4) The Bears' defense has held all three opponents this season to a .156 attack efficiency or lower and five of six dating to last year. MSU ranks second nationally in total digs (249) and 13th in digs per set (17.79). Individually,
Kate Owen (19th - 62) and
Manuela Ibarguen (38th - 56) both rank in the top 40 nationally in total digs.
5) MSU has 18 games scheduled in Missouri this season, with three-game tournaments at Missouri and Saint Louis in addition to 12 home contests.
6) Senior
Azyah Green averaged 1.17 blocks per set last season, the highest figure at Missouri State since 2006. She led the Bears in blocking in each of her first three seasons, becoming the first player to lead the club three years in a row since All-Ameican Linette White did it in 2001, 2002 and 2003. She ranks 14th in school history with 364 career blocks.
7) Sophomore middle
Maddy Bushnell set an MSU freshman record and led the MVC with a .343 attack percentage last season. Her efficiency ranked sixth overall for a season at MSU.
8) MSU has notched the top two ace averages since the 25-point scoring era began (2008) in the last two seasons, posting 1.61 per set in 2020-21 and 1.38 last season. This year's roster has served a combined 127 aces in the Maroon and White.
Series Histories
Missouri State is 1-0 versus Northwestern State, a 3-0 victory in Springfield in 2006.
   The Bears are 42-8-1 against Missouri, and the teams are meeting in the regular season for the first time since 1998. The Tigers have won the last three match-ups, including that 1998 contest in Columbia and NCAA Tournament matches in Columbia in 2005 and Lawrence, Kan., in 2015. MSU's last win in the series was in 1995 in Springfield, and the programs met at least once per season every year from 1972-95.
   Missouri State and Abilene Christian have never met in volleyball, and the Bears are 32-15 against current Western Athletic Conference membership.
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