Springfield Standard

Missouri State University’s women’s volleyball team will travel to Jacksonville, Alabama, this weekend for a two-match series against Jacksonville State. The matches are scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m., both taking place at Pete Mathews Coliseum.

This meeting marks the first time Missouri State faces Jacksonville State in volleyball competition. Missouri State currently holds a 5-10 overall record and is seeking its first Conference USA win of the season, while Jacksonville State stands at 8-8 with a 2-2 conference record.

Missouri State recently joined Conference USA after spending 33 seasons in the Missouri Valley Conference. During its time in the MVC, the team achieved a .652 winning percentage.

The Bears’ roster features a young lineup with seven freshmen and six sophomores among their 18 players. All seven Missouri natives on the squad are from within 75 miles of the university campus.

Freshmen have contributed significantly to the team's offense this year, accounting for nearly half of all kills. Peyton McKee leads with 149 kills and was named CUSA Freshman of the Week on September 8. Hannah Gardner has recorded 81 kills, 223 assists, and 122 digs so far this season. She also became the first freshman in school history to achieve a triple-double with her performance against UTSA on September 5.

Defensively, Missouri State ranks third in Conference USA and is among the top teams nationally for blocks per set (2.43). Lizanyela Lopez and Grace Smith rank second and third individually in blocks per set within the league; each has posted an individual match with eleven blocks this season.

In recent years, Missouri State has been recognized for its defensive prowess, ranking among the nation’s leaders in total digs across four of the last five seasons—finishing as high as fourth nationally in total digs during 2024—and currently leading Conference USA with an average of over fifteen digs per set.

Serving remains another strength under head coach Steven McRoberts; since he took over, his teams have consistently ranked among Conference USA's best in service aces per set.

Head coach Steven McRoberts is now in his sixth year leading Missouri State and brings extensive experience to Springfield as he enters his twenty-ninth season as a head coach overall. With more than six hundred wins, he ranks ninth among active Division I coaches nationwide.

"Coach Mac is no stranger to Conference USA, with a 44-10 career record in league matches. As Tulsa's head coach from 2011-13, McRoberts won two regular season titles, one tournament championship and the 2011 CUSA Coach of the Year award."

Additionally, assistant coach Lori Endicott-Vandersnick joined Missouri State this year following her decorated playing career that included helping Team USA earn bronze at the Barcelona Olympics.

"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."

Fans can follow both matches via ESPN+ or access live statistics online.