Storylines for the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational
1) Missouri State opens the home schedule this weekend with the annual Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational in Hammons Student Center. The Bears (0-3) take on Lindenwood at 6 p.m. Thursday, Texas San Antonio at 7 p.m. Friday and DePaul at 3 p.m. Saturday.
2) The Bears are 1-0 against Lindenwood, winning 3-1 at home on Sept. 14, 2023.
Brooke Eslinger is the only current MSU player who competed in that match, finishing with seven digs.
MoState is 0-1 versus UTSA, getting swept by the Roadrunners in San Antonio on Aug. 25, 2023.
MSU is 0-1 against DePaul, losing in five sets to the Blue Demons in the 2019 Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational.
3) The Bears join Conference USA in 2025 after a 33-season run in the Missouri Valley Conference. MoState enjoyed much success in the MVC, posting a .652 winning percentage during its tenure.
4) Missouri State has a young roster in 2025 with seven freshmen and six sophomores among the 18 members of the squad. Additionally, all seven Missouri natives on the squad are from within 75 miles of the MSU campus.
5) MSU has ranked in the top 32 nationally in total digs in four of the last five seasons, finishing 10th in 2020-21, 11th in 2023, 32nd in 2022, and fourth in 2024. The Bears also ranked 13th in dig average in 2024.
6) MoState has notched the top five ace averages since the 25-point scoring era began in the last five seasons, with at least 1.24 per set in each season under Coach McRoberts.
7) Head coach
Steven McRoberts is in his sixth season in Springfield and 29th overall as a head coach with 657 victories to his credit, good for 9th among active Division I coaches.
Coach Mac is no stranger to Conference USA, going 44-6 in the league with two regular season titles, one tournament championship, and one CUSA Coach of the Year award (2011) while serving as head coach at Tulsa from 2011-13.
8) First-year Missouri State assistant coach
Lori Endicott-Vandersnick helped Team USA to a bronze medal in volleyball at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and was named the best setter at the '92 Games.
