Midwestern State (9-6, 8-4 LSC)
vs Dallas Baptist (3-9, 3-9 LSC)
Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament, First Round
Tuesday, March 23 – 6 p.m.
Junell Center/Stephens Arena (San Angelo, Texas)
All-Time Series: MSU leads 37-20
 
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – As the Midwestern State Volleyball team gears up for Lone Star Conference post season this week, here are the top five things you need to know about the Tuesday, March 22, match against Dallas Baptist. First serve is set for 6 p.m. in San Angelo, Texas.
 
FIVE STORY LINES
 
1 |  With a win against DBU on Tuesday, the Mustangs will have beaten a 25-year hiatus of winning any post-season match. The last time that the team was able to get past the first round was in 1995 during the NAIA Southwest Region Tournament. MSU beat University of the Southwest (N.M.), 3-1 in Magnolia, Arkansas on Nov. 10. That same day, Midwestern State fell to Harding University 2-3. That season, the volleyball team went 26-10 with a .722 winning percent. This year's team is not far behind with a .600 win percent from their 9-6 season and gaining the second spot in the LSC North Division.
 
2 |  The site of the LSC championship tournament game is Junell Center/Stephens Arena in San Angelo, Texas, which is neutral for both DBU and MSU. This year, the Mustangs went 1-1 in neutral site games, with both taking place in San Angelo. They beat Western New Mexico 3-1 on Feb. 26, and lost to Texas A&M International on Feb. 27 by the same score. Familiarity could help the team, as Dallas Baptist has not played at the arena since the 2019 season. The Patriots stuck only to Lone Star Conference games this year so they have not played in any neutral site matches thus far. History is on Midwestern State's side as well, with the two teams having met up in two neutral games in 2007 and 2008. MSU took the Denton, Texas game 3-0, and the Joplin, Mo. game 3-1.
 
3 |  Tough serving is one of the Mustang's continued strengths throughout the 2021 spring season. The team recorded less service aces than their opponents did in three of 15 games, in which all three games resulted in a loss. When MSU puts up more aces than the opposition, the good outweigh the bad with a 9-3 record. Midwestern State sits first in the Lone Star Conference with 2.22 aces per set and with 144 total aces. Out of the 170 teams ranked in NCAA Division II, the Mustangs rank 13th in the nation in aces/set and first in total service aces. On the other hand, DBU has 0.77 aces per set, which ranks 14th in the LSC. Autumn Roach leads MSU with 28 total aces and is second on the team with 0.46 aces per set. Roach is first in the Lone Star and second in the nation with her 28 aces. Five players on the team rank in the top 15 in total aces for the LSC and NCAA Division II.
 
4 |  On the offensive side of the net, Midwestern State has shown tenacity during the regular season. The team's hitting percentage racked up to 0.161, which ranks eighth in the conference. DBU's 0.107 team hitting percent is good for 14th. MSU leads the conference with 781 total team kills and is second in Division II while their total attacks equals 2,274 for third in the Lone Star and nation. The Patriots totaled 537 kills to sit 13th in the Lone Star Conference and their 2,028 total attacks puts them at fifth and eighth in the NCAA. Bailey Herbert leads DBU with 545 total attacks, turning into 10.48 attacks per set and 2.65 kills per set. Lauren Bourne is in first position for the Mustangs with 2.83 kills per set and ranks eighth in the LSC. Lissette Lefforge is the top in total kills with 150 to sit fifth in the Lone Star Conference and 22nd in NCAA Division II. Roach helped the attack by adding 336 assists and 5.17 assists per set. The freshman is sixth in the conference in total assists and tenth for helpers per set. With Kaitlyn Masseth and Jaycie Fuller, the three total 2,274 aids for third in the conference and in the nation.
 
5 |  Speaking of Fuller, the senior registered 212 digs and 3.79 digs per set to facilitate the team's total of 1,025 digs. Keetyn Davis added 207 to get MSU to second in the Lone Star in team digs and at third in Division II. It all evens out to 15.77 digs per set for the Mustangs. Their defensive efforts continue to the net where 90 blocks during the season ends Midwestern State at ninth in the LSC and 23rd for the nation. Lefforge comes in hot with half of the group's blocks for 0.69 stops per set. The middle's 45 shut downs rank at seventh in the Lone Star. When the team total's seven or more total blocks, they are 5-0 during the 2021 spring season.
 
All of the postseason games, including the MSU/DBU match, will broadcast on the LSC Digital Network. Fans can purchase a $10 day pass that will provide access for 24 hours. Watch online at www.lonestarconferencenetwork.com or on the LSC Digital Network OTT app.