Storylines for the Bear Invitational
1) Missouri State (4-5) hosts its second home tournament of the season and closes out the non-conference portion of the schedule this week at Hammons Student Center. The Bears take on Lindenwood at 6 p.m. Thursday, Western Illinois at 6 p.m. Friday and Arkansas State at 1 p.m. Saturday.
2) 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 2.00 aces per set this year, which exceeds the averages from the previous three seasons and ranks 39th nationally.
   The 2023 MSU roster has served a combined 332 aces in the Maroon and White, and the Bears have served double-digit ace totals 18 times in the last three-plus seasons, including four in 2023. This year, the Bears are a net plus-22 points at the service line over the opposition.
3) The Bears lead the MVC and rank 46th nationally in opponent hitting percentage (.157) through nine matches, holding three separate opponents to .066 or lower.
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 already has 497 total blocks as a Bear – fifth on the school's career list – and is on pace to end her time at MSU as one of five players with at least 500 stuffs.
   Her career 1.05 blocking average ranks 11th in school history, and her totals both overall and per set are the highest for any player who played exclusively in the 25-point scoring era (since 2008).
5) Senior
Teagan Polcovich became the 26th MSU player with 1,000 career digs on Sept. 8 and now ranks 21st on the school's list with 1,050.
Kate Owen (801) could also reach the 1,000 plateau this season.
   Additionally, both players rank in the top six in the MVC and top 67 nationally in service aces.
6) Head coach
Steven McRoberts is in his fourth season in Springfield and 27th overall as a head coach with 632 victories to his credit, good for 12th among active Division I coaches.
7) The Bears will play half 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.
Series Histories
Missouri State is meeting Lindenwood for the first time in volleyball.
   The Bears are 18-3 versus Western Illinois with an 11-0 mark in Springfield. The teams have played once since 2004, a MoState sweep at home in 2016.
   MSU is 5-2 versus Arkansas State and last played in Springfield in 2015, a 3-2 Red Wolves win. The last two meetings were 3-1 Bears victories in Jonesboro in 2016 and 2021.
