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OZARK, Mo. – On day one of its opening tournament, the Missouri State beach volleyball team earned wins over Hendrix and Lindenwood here Friday to jump out to a 2-0 start to the season.
The Bears started the day off with a sweep of Hendrix, 5-0, kicking off their 2023 campaign with a bang before earning a 4-1 victory over the Lions in their second dual of the day.
“I’m very proud of how our team poured into each other today and came out with two good wins,” said head coach Ashley Emery. “It was exciting to watch these young players get their first college wins. We will have a tough start tomorrow, but the girls are ready for the challenge that day two will bring. We’re looking forward to seeing the growth from today in our team tomorrow.”
Tylar Garrett represented MSU in the No. 1 spot on Friday, after playing in the top flight for the entirety of the 2022 season. Paired up with Rebecca Bach, the duo swept the pair from Hendrix in straight sets, defeating Abby Collier and Kyler Greenlee, 21-15 and 22-20. In their second match of the day, Garrett and Bach fell, dropping their sets 21-11 and 21-12 to Lindenwood’s Maider Soto and Katie Malzahn.
Grayson Hall and Olivia Muriel had a dominant showing in the No. 2 flight, defeating Rebecca Solina and Eliana Oden in two sets (21-12, 21-17) before defeating Lindenwood’s duo of Nyah Wilson and Myah Hough (21-16, 21-11) to earn a point toward the Bears’ victory.
In the No. 3 flight, Olivia Rattler and Brooke Plessner swept their first opponent in impressive fashion, defeating the Hendrix pair, 21-7, 21-17. Against Lindenwood, the duo came out strong, winning the first set 21-15, but dropped the second, 19-21. In a back-and-forth final set, Rattler and Plessner came out on top (15-13), earning their second win of the day.
Playing in the fourth spot for the Bears on Friday, the freshman team of Manuela Niemeyer and MacKenzie Steele earned their first win of the season in dominant fashion, beating Hendrix’s Isabelle Eurgil and Liz Roy, 21-7, 21-8. Against Lindenwood the pair showed fight, defeating McKenna Androsky and Rachel Mitts in three sets (21-13, 16-21, 15-5).
The No. 5 pair of Riley Drew and Addison Crider earned two victories on the day beating both opponents in straight sets. To start the day, the duo defeated Hendrix’s Avery Evans-Brooks and Meghan Fuller-Freeman (21-15, 21-15) before taking down the Lions’ pair of Rebecca Janke and Katelyn Irvin (21-19, 21-19).
The Bears (2-0) continue play Saturday at Volleyball Beach Ozark with an 11 a.m. match against UT Martin (2-0) before taking on Oklahoma Wesleyan (0-2) at 4 p.m.
Results
Missouri State 5, Hendrix 0
Flight 1: Becca Bach and Tylar Garrett (MSU) def. Abby Collier and Kyler Greenlee (HC) 21-15, 22-202
Flight 2: Grayson Hall and Olivia Muriel (MSU) def. Rebecca Solina and Eliana Oden (HC) 21-12, 21-173
Flight 3: Olivia Rattler and Brooke Plessner (MSU) def. Morgan Ford and Mabrey Matz (HC) 21-7, 21-17
Flight 4: Manuela Niemeyer and MacKenzie Steele (MSU) def. Isabella Eurgil and Liz Roy (HC) 21-7, 21-85
Flight 5: Riley Drew and Addison Crider (MSU) def. Avery Evans-Brooks and Meghan Fuller-Freeman (HC) 21-15, 21-15
Missouri State 4, Lindenwood 1
Flight 1: Maider Soto and Katie Malzahn (LU) def. Becca Bach and Tylar Garrett (MSU) 21-11, 21-12
Flight 2: Olivia Muriel and Grayson Hall (MSU) def. Nyah Wilson and Myah Hough (LU) 21-16, 21-11
Flight 3: Olivia Rattler and Brooke Plessner (MSU) def. Amber Schade and Elise Llorens (LU) 21-15, 19-21, 15-13
Flight 4: Manuela Niemeyer and MacKenzie Steele (MSU) def. McKenna Androsky and Rachel Mitts (LU) 21-13, 16-21, 15-5
Flight 5: Riley Drew and Addison Crider (MSU) def. Rebecca Janke and Katelyn Irvin (LU) 21-19, 21-15
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