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Opponent: Illinois-Springfield
Time: Friday, September 9th; 2:00 PM
Location: Meyer Sports Center; Bolivar, Missouri

Opponent: Union
Time: Friday, September 9th; 7:00 PM
Location: Meyer Sports Center; Bolivar, Missouri

Opponent: Oklahoma Panhandle State
Time: Saturday, September 10th; 2:00 PM
Location: Meyer Sports Center; Bolivar, Missouri

Opponent: Harding
Time: Saturday, September 10th; 7:00 PM
Location: Meyer Sports Center; Bolivar, Missouri

Bolivar, Mo. - The SBU Bearcats are set to host the SBU Invitational on Friday & Saturday, a tournament which features five schools with a total of 10 matches played over the two days.

The Coaches
Caira Dortch will begin her third season as the head coach at Southwest Baptist, and holds a career coaching record of 15-44 (8-32 MIAA). Prior to soming to SBU, Dortch previously coached at Drury and Evangel.

Trey Salinas enters his 2nd season as the head coach at Illinois-Springfield. Salinas holds a career coaching record of 7-24 after spending the previous four years as an assistant coach.

Darrin McClure enters his 2nd season as the head coach at Union. McClure is in his 10th season overall as a head coach, and holds a 10-19 record at Union.

Mike Stephens enters his 8th season as the head coach at Oklahoma Panhandle State. Stephens holds a career coaching record of 22-192 after having spent six seasons as the head men's volleyball coach at LeMoyne College.

Meredith Fear is in her 5th season as the head coach at Harding.  Fear holds a career coaching record of 126-71, including a 90-39 mark at Harding.

Scouting the Opponents
Illinois-Springfield enters the SBU Invitational 2-2 on the season, most recently coming off of a 3-2 victory over Wayne State. The Prairie Stars are led offensively by Alli Splitt who averages 3.22 kills/set while hitting a team high .312. Setting duties belong to Lexi Hall, who averages 6.06 assists/set, while defensively Kayla Katarzynski averages 2.75 digs/set.

Union enters the SBU Invitational 1-3 on the season, having lost two in a row. The Bulldogs have three athletes averaging over 2.00 kills/set, led by Deja Moorer (2.14 kills/set), while Hannah Huguley averages a team best 8.75 assists/set. Defensively, Audrey Cagle averages a team high 3.88 assists/set.

Oklahoma Panhanlde State enters the SBU Invitational 0-4 on the season and are currently on a 34-game losing streak. Offensively Emily Goeken leads the Aggies with 1.42 kills/set, while Julia Ibarra averages a team high 4.44 assists/set, and Jessica Taylor averages 2.17 digs/set.

Harding enters the SBU Invitational 2-2 on the season, having won their last two games. The Bison have 5 athletes averaging over 2.00 kills/set, and are led by Taylor Mounts (3.33 kills/set) and Emily Clayton (2.62 kills/set). Abigail Glosup handles the setting duties, averaging 10.81 assists/set, while Taylor Lake averages a team high 6.31 digs/set.

Scouting the Bearcats
Southwest Baptist enters the SBU Invitational 1-3 on the season, and are coming off of a 3-2 loss to Saint Joseph's. The Bearcats are led offensively by Dana Neal who averages a team high 2.06 kills/set, and is second on the team with 3.00 digs/set. Setting duties are split between Serena Mar (3.76 assists/set) and Brea Freeman (2.94 assists/set), while Bailey Baumann averages a team high 4.76 digs/set.