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OZARK, Mo. – Aided by two gritty team wins on day two of its first tournament, the Missouri State Beach Volleyball team moved to 4-0 on the season here Saturday with victories over UT Martin and Oklahoma Wesleyan.
Missouri State’s first challenge of the day was against an undefeated Skyhawks team who had earned an NCAA Tournament berth in 2022. The back-and-forth battle saw the Bears grind out a 3-2 victory over their opponent which went down to the final flight. In MSU’s final dual of the weekend, the Bears swept Oklahoma Wesleyan, 5-0, to remain undefeated at the conclusion of their opening tournament.
“We couldn’t have scripted a better finish to the weekend,” said head coach Ashley Emery. “Going 4-0 on opening weekend on our home turf is a good feeling for sure. The ladies have been grinding since day one and I’m so happy for them to be able to reward themselves in such a way. We are going to rest, reflect and start to prepare for next weekend’s battle.”
With the dual tied at two matches apiece, flight two was the deciding factor in the Bears’ first contest of the day. In come-from-behind fashion, Olivia Muriel and Grayson Hall secured the three-set win (17-21, 21-17, 15-8) to secure the dual for the Bears and the pair’s third win of the weekend. Their success continued against Oklahoma Wesleyan as the duo beat the Eagles’ pair of Chiara Vittoni and Allison Howard (21-13, 19-21, 15-7).
Playing in the No. 1 spot, Tylar Garrett and Becca Bach got back in the win column on Saturday afternoon, coming from behind to win a three-setter against UT Martin’s Kambree Lucas and Olivia O’Keefe (16-21, 21-17, 15-10). The match was pivotal in the Bears’ win over the Sky Hawks. The pair’s final match of the day was decided in three sets, as well, ending in a 22-24, 21-18, 15-11 win over Oklahoma Wesleyan’s Addie Mathias and Sydney Collins.
After dropping their first matches of the day the Bears No. 3 flight of Olivia Rattler and Brooke Plessner and No. 5 flight of Riley Drew and Addison Crider bounced back against the Eagles. Rattler and Plessner exuded dominance in their win, beating the Eagles’ pair 21-10, 21-10. Drew and Crider also swept Oklahoma Wesleyan’s fifth flight (21-8, 21-8) in commanding fashion.
In the No. 4 position, Manuela Niemeyer and MacKenzie Steele continued their weekend success, as the freshman duo earned their second sweep of the day and third of the tournament, beating Natalie Ater and Megan Nelson (21-7, 21-7). The pair sits at 4-0 on the young season.
The Bears will be back in action next weekend when the Bears host their second tournament of the season Friday and Saturday at Volleyball Beach Ozark. MSU will play SBU at 9 a.m. on Friday before continuing the tournament with another showdown against UT Martin.
Results
Missouri State 3, UT Martin 2
Flight 1: Becca Bach and Tylar Garrett (MSU) def. Kambree Lucas and Olivia O’Keefe (UTM) 16-21, 21-16, 15-10
Flight 2: Olivia Muriel and Grayson Hall (MSU) def. Lucy Kaufman and Dylan Mott (UTM) 17-21, 21-17, 15-8
Flight 3: Kayla Bryant and Addy Vaughn (UTM) def. Olivia Rattler and Brooke Plessner (MSU) 21-10, 21-17,
Flight 4: Manuela Niemeyer and MacKenzie Steele (MSU) def. Kayla Carrell and Haeleigh Paulino (UTM) 21-13, 21-13
Flight 5: Jenna Vallee and Ryan Rednour (UTM) def. Riley Drew and Addison Crider (MSU) 21-16, 13-21,15-13
Missouri State 5, Oklahoma Wesleyan 0
Flight 1: Becca Bach and Tylar Garrett (MSU) def. Addie Mathias and Sydney Collins (OKW) 22-24, 21-18, 15-11
Flight 2: Olivia Muriel and Grayson Hall (MSU) def. Chiara Vittoni and Allison Howard (OKW) 21-13, 19-21, 15-7,
Flight 3: Olivia Rattler and Brooke Plessner (MSU) def. Ashlynn Farrell and Maddy McKinney (OKW) 21-10, 21-10
Flight 4: Manuela Niemeyer and MacKenzie Steele (MSU) def. Natalie Ater and Megan Nelson (OKW) 21-7, 21-7
Flight 5: Riley Drew and Addison Crider (MSU) def. Kylie Thompson and Carleigh Reish (OKW) 21-8, 21-8
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