Bears Host UIC, Valpo on Homecoming Weekend

Missouri State vs. UIC/Valparaiso
UIC (13-9, 4-5)	Oct. 20, 4 p.m. Live Stats \| ESPN+ Alumni Night Homecoming
Valparaiso (13-9, 5-4)	Oct. 21, 5 p.m. Live Stats Homecoming
Location	Springfield, Mo.
Site	Hammons Student Center
Missouri State	Match Notes Volleyball Home Page
UIC	Volleyball Home Page
Valpo	Volleyball Home Page

Storylines for the Weekend
1) Missouri State (9-12, 3-6 Missouri Valley Conference) is back at Hammons Student Center on Homecoming to begin its second trip through the MVC schedule. The Bears host UIC (13-9, 4-5) at 4 p.m. Friday and Valparaiso (13-9, 5-4) at 5 p.m. Saturday.

2) The Bears rank fourth nationally in total digs (1,354) and 17th in average (16.72/set). The high dig numbers continue a trend that saw the Bears rank 10th nationally in 2020-21 and 32nd in 2022 in total digs.

3) Senior Teagan Polcovich became the 26th MSU player with 1,000 career digs on Sept. 8 and now ranks 11th on the school's list with 1,289 - just 10 away from eighth. Her 3.92 career average ranks fourth on the Bears' career list, and she sits 10th nationally in total digs (400) and 25th in average (4.94/set) in 2023.

4) Fifth-year senior Azyah Green has recorded at least 100 blocks in each of her first four seasons and is the first player since the 1980s to lead the Bears in that category in four consecutive years.
   Green ranks fourth in school history with 542 total blocks and 11th with a 1.04 per set average. Her block total is the highest of any MSU player since 1988.
   Among active Division I players, Green is first in sets played (526), sixth in blocks (542) and seventh in matches (135).

5) Junior Maddy Bushnell set MSU's freshman record with a .343 hitting percentage in 2021, and currently ranks 12th in school history with a .283 attack efficiency for her career.

6) Breanah Rives leads the Bears in total kills and could become just the fourth rookie since 1986 to lead MSU in kills, joining Christine McCartney (2010), Lily Johnson (2014) and Amelia Flynn (2018). Rives is currently one of two MVC freshmen, along with Indiana State's Kira Holland, to lead their team in total kills.

7) MoState has notched the top three ace averages since the 25-point scoring era began in the last three seasons, and ranked 39th nationally in 2022 with 195 total aces. The Bears average 1.48 aces per set this year, near the 1.61 figures posted in 2020 and 2022.
   The 2023 MSU roster has served a combined 384 aces in the Maroon and White, and the Bears have served double-digit ace totals 18 times in the last four seasons, including four in 2023. This year, the Bears are a net plus-45 points at the service line over the opposition.

8) Head coach Steven McRoberts is in his fourth season in Springfield and 27th overall as a head coach with 637 victories to his credit, good for 12th among active Division I coaches.

9) The Bears play of their scheduled 30 matches at Hammons Student Center this season and host the MVC Tournament for the first time since 2018. Missouri State has hosted the conference meet 10 times previously, three as the Gateway Tournament and seven under the MVC heading. All told, Hammons will host 27 matches this season, including neutral-site contests. MoState is 7-4 at home this season and has not been swept at HSC.

Series Histories
The Bears are 7-5-1 against UIC, resuming the series after a 34-year hiatus in 2022 when the Flames joined the league. MoState leads 4-3-1 in Springfield, with UIC winning the series resumption 3-2 on Oct. 22 of last season at Hammons.
   Missouri State is 10-5 all-time versus Valpo and 8-5 since the Beacons joined the MVC in 2017.The Bears are 8-2 against VU at home, with both losses coming in a six-day span in November 2018.

Last Week
Missouri State lost a pair of 3-0 decisions at UNI and Drake, the top two teams in the league standings.
   Friday, UNI out-hit the Bears .342-.121 for the sweep.
   Saturday, Drake never trailed and hit .312 against the MSU defense. Breanah Rives led the way with 12 kills for the Bears.

Bears Host UIC, Valpo on Homecoming Weekend

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Players Mentioned

Maddy Bushnell

Azyah Green

Teagan Polcovich

Breanah Rives

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