State meets division-leading Ole Miss (7-7, 3-2 SEC) Friday at 7 p.m. at UM’s Gillom Sports Center before travelling on to Fayetteville for Sunday’s 1:30 p.m. match with Arkansas (4-11, 1-4 SEC) at Barnhill Arena.

The Bulldogs will be looking to add to recent success against both opponents. State has won seven of the last eight against the Rebels over the past four seasons and three straight against the Lady Razorbacks, including a program-first win in Fayetteville last year.

Junior outside hitter Ioana Demian leads the Bulldogs on offense with 164 kills, ranks second on the club with 117 digs, and ranks among the leaders in the Southeastern Conference with 17 service aces. State has served up an SEC-leading 94 aces through 16 matches. Sophomore middle blocker Ashley Newsome, third in the SEC with 63 total blocks, stands second on the team in kills with 108.

State resumes league play on the home court next weekend October 17-19, playing host to defending SEC Western Division champion Louisiana State in a 7 p.m. match Friday before taking on Georgia at 1 p.m. Sunday in a match to be televised live regionally by FOX Sports Net South.