Friday, August 28
Wichita, Kan.
2:00 p.m.
Missouri State University
vs
Idaho State
Volleyball Bears Open 2026 Season in Wichita
August 27, 2026 | Women's Volleyball
| Missouri State at Shocker Volleyball Classic | |
| Location | Wichita, Kan. |
| Site | Charles Koch Arena |
| Match 1 | vs. Idaho State Friday, Aug. 28, 2 p.m. Live Stats |
| Match 2 | vs. Stephen F. Austin Saturday, Aug. 29, 2 p.m. Live Stats | Listen (SFA Broadcast) |
| Match3 | at Wichita State Sunday, Aug. 30, 12 p.m. ESPN+ | Live Stats |
| Missouri State | Game Notes Volleyball Home Page Media Guide |
| Opponents | Idaho State Stephen F. Austin Wichita State |
| Follow the Bears | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook #GoBears | #NoStateLikeMoState |
| Bears Mobile App | App Store (Apple Devices) Google Play Store (Android Devices) |
Storylines for the Opening Weekend
1)Â Missouri State begins the 2026 campaign with a trip to the Sunflower State to face Idaho State, Southland Conference favorite Stephen F. Austin and former Missouri Valley Conference rival Wichita State at the Shocker Volleyball Classic in Wichita. The Bears are 33-21 all-time in season openers and 4-2 under head coach Steven McRoberts.
  The tournament features three of the top 20 winningest active Division I coaches (See note 7).
2) The Bears are 1-1 all-time against Idaho State, winning 3-0 in Springfield in 1999 and losing 3-1 in 1989 in Provo, Utah.
  Mo State is 6-1 versus SFA, going 4-0 at neutral sites against the Ladyjacks. The teams have not met since a 3-1 SFA win on its home court in 2011.
  Missouri State owns a 46-33 lead on Wichita State with a 21-12 mark in Wichita, including a 3-1 win the last time the teams faced off in Koch Arena in 2016. WSU has won the last three meetings, most recently in Jonesboro, Ark., in 2021.
3) Missouri State has seven Missouri natives on the 2026 roster, including six who are from within 75 miles of the MSU campus.
4) MSU has ranked in the top 32 nationally in total digs in four of the last six seasons, finishing 10th in 2020-21, 11th in 2023, 32nd in 2022, and fourth in 2024. The Bears led Conference USA with 14.51 digs per set last season.
5) Mo State has notched the top six ace averages since the 25-point scoring era began in the last six seasons, with at least 1.24 per set in each season under Coach McRoberts.
6) Sophomore and Preseason all-CUSA selection Hannah Gardner was one of four players nationally in 2025 with at least 180 kills, 480 assists and 210 digs. She collected a pair of triple-doubles on the season, the first by a freshman in school history.
7) Head coach Steven McRoberts is in his seventh season in Springfield and 30th overall as a head coach with 669 victories to his credit, good for 5th among active Division I coaches.
  The Bears will play the top three coaches in active wins this season, facing Stephen F. Austin (Debbie Humphreys, 1st, 869), Western Kentucky (Travis Hudson, 2nd, 807) and Sam Houston (Brenda Gray, 3rd, 787). Additionally, New Mexico State (Mike Jordan, 13th, 598) and Wichita State (Chris Lamb, 20th, 545) are also on the 2026 slate.
8) Second-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.
Players Mentioned
Setter/Opposite
/ Women's VolleyballWednesday, August 26
Tuesday, August 25
Tuesday, August 25
Monday, August 24
