Missouri State University will host the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational volleyball tournament from September 4 to 6 at Hammons Student Center in Springfield, Missouri. The event marks the opening of the home schedule for the Missouri State Lady Bears, who currently hold a record of 0-3.
The Lady Bears are scheduled to play three matches during the invitational. They will face Lindenwood on Thursday at 6 p.m., Texas San Antonio (UTSA) on Friday at 7 p.m., and DePaul on Saturday at 1 p.m. Additional neutral-site matches between UTSA, DePaul, and Lindenwood will take place throughout the tournament.
Missouri State has a history with each of its upcoming opponents. The team is 1-0 against Lindenwood after a home win last season, where current player Brooke Eslinger recorded seven digs. The Bears have previously lost to both UTSA and DePaul in past matchups.
This season, Missouri State is transitioning to Conference USA in 2025 after spending 33 seasons in the Missouri Valley Conference, where it achieved a .652 winning percentage.
The roster for this year’s team is young, featuring seven freshmen and six sophomores among its 18 members. All seven Missouri natives on the squad come from within 75 miles of campus.
In recent years, Missouri State has consistently ranked among the top programs nationally for total digs, finishing as high as fourth in 2024 and ranking in the top 32 four times over five seasons. The team also placed 13th nationally in dig average last season.
The Bears have maintained strong serving statistics under head coach Steven McRoberts, recording top ace averages since the start of the current scoring era with at least 1.24 aces per set each season during his tenure.
Head coach Steven McRoberts enters his sixth season leading Missouri State and his 29th overall as a head coach with a career total of 657 victories—ninth among active Division I coaches. McRoberts previously coached at Tulsa, where he compiled a record of 44-6 in Conference USA play and earned multiple titles along with Coach of the Year honors in that league.
First-year assistant coach Lori Endicott-Vandersnick brings international experience to the staff, having helped Team USA secure a bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and being named best setter during those games.
Tickets for Thursday’s match against Lindenwood are available for $3, with special pricing also offered on select concessions.
