Arkadelphia, AR  –  The Miners open their 2024 campaign with four matches at the Reddie-Tiger Invitational this Friday-Saturday. They will be facing Ouachita Baptist, Montevallo, Southeastern Oklahoma State, and St. Mary's in the tournament.
 
Match 1: Missouri S&T @ Ouachita Baptist, Tomorrow at 12pm
 
The Tigers are coming off a 2023 campaign in which they went 17-15. They were successful at home though, going 11-3 when playing in Arkadelphia. They have several key pieces returning to the team this year, but are going to be without Kayla Steinmeyer, who led the team in kills last season.

The Miners have played the Tigers thrice before this matchup, with all three taking place at neutral sites, making tomorrow's match the first home match for either team in the series. The Miners lead the all-time series 2-1, winning the last two straight. The most recent matchup took place in 2019, which S&T won in 4 sets (25-13, 16-25, 25-21, 25-21).
 
Match 2: Missouri S&T vs Montevallo, Tomorrow at 4pm
 
Montevallo went 13-18 last season, making the Gulf South Conference tournament and making it to the second round before losing to the University of West Florida. The offseason took a toll on the Falcons, with five of their top players leaving the program, leaving Brooklyn Thompson with the most kills of any returner with just 97 in 2023.
 
The Miners have only faced the Falcons once before. The Miners and Falcons met at the 2010 Florida Southern/Holiday Inn Classic in Lakeland, Florida with S&T taking the match in straight sets 25-22, 25-19, 25-17.
 
Match 3: Missouri S&T vs Southeastern Oklahoma State, Saturday at 10am
 
The Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm had a record of 12-17 last year, making the Great American Conference tournament but losing 0-3 in the first round to Harding. The Savage Storm only lost two players to graduation, but more importantly their kills leader D'Nari Mills. Mills had 546 kills last season for an average of 4.75 kills per set, ranking her 6th in the country. She was named the GAC Player of the Year and named to the First-Team All-Region and All-Conference.
 
Saturday's match will mark the third time that the Miners and the Savage Storm have faced each other. The Savage Storm won both previous meetings, both in five sets, with the most recent being in 2010 when S&T hosted and lost 25-19, 25-21, 13-25, 24-26, 12-15.
 
Match 4: Missouri S&T vs St. Mary's, Saturday at 3:30pm
 
After going 12-15 and missing the conference tournament last season, the St. Mary's Rattlers are looking to turn things around this season. The Rattlers are in ideal position for a successful season, with their top 9 players all returning this year.
 
This will be the first matchup between S&T and St. Mary's.
 
What's Next

Missouri S&T will play at the Quincy Classic next, which will take place on September 13th & 14th. The Miners will face some familiar faces in the tournament in Maryville and Quincy, as well as Winona State.

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