OZARK, Mo. – Splitting its matches on day two of its second home tournament, the Missouri State beach volleyball team moved to 7-1 on the year to wrap up the weekend here Saturday afternoon.
The Bears started the day in dominant fashion, sweeping McKendree 5-0 before dropping a tough, 3-2, match to Eastern Kentucky, marking the team's first loss of the season.
"Overall, I'm proud of the work we put in the last two weekends. A 7-1 record is a victory, and we will celebrate that," said head coach Ashley Emery. "I have to improve my strategy part in my game planning. But I trust our girls and I believe that they can get the job done. We were just out played in our last game against EKU."
Playing in the top spot, Becca Bach and Tylar Garrett split the day, earning a win against the Bearcats (21-12, 21-14) before dropping their contest against EKU's Paityn Walker and Hannah Keating (21-16, 21-17). Flight two also earned one win and one loss on Saturday, making quick work of McKendree's Lauren McCurley and Amber Williams, before dropping a three-set nail-biter to EKU, falling 16-21, 21-12, 15-7.
In the third flight for the Bears, Oliva Rattler and Brooke Plessner saw their day go in similar fashion, defeating Jessica Hickel and Hanna Pariso (21-15, 21-14) before suffering a defeat at the hands of the third pair from EKU (21-14, 21-15).
Flights four and five earned two wins, apiece, for MSU to wrap up the tournament. The duo of Manuela Niemeyer and MacKenzie Steele dominated McKendree's Megan Diercks and Brooke Junker (21-9, 21-8) before taking down EKU's Elizabeth Fonvielle and Maddy Campbell (21-16, 21-13). The wins keep the freshman pair undefeated on the season, earning eight decisive wins through the team's first two weekends.
Riley Drew and Addison Crider also earned two notches in the win column on Saturday, defeating McKendree's fifth flight in two sets (21-10, 21-14) before earning a hard-fought three-set win over EKU's Arilyn Lee and EK Longergan (21-13, 16-21, 15-10).
"We knew the winning streak wouldn't last forever you just never want it to be today," continued Emery. "We will grow from our loss and head to Florida ready to battle another set of good teams."
MSU hits the road for the first time this season next weekend when the Bears travel to St. Petersburg, Fla., March 10-11. MSU will face off against Palm Beach Atlantic on Friday at 11:30 a.m. before matching up with Tampa at 2:30 p.m.
Results
Missouri State 5, McKendree 0
Flight 1: Becca Bach and Tylar Garrett (MSU) def. Michelle Ramirez and Maddie Misner (MCK) 21-12, 21-14
Flight 2: Olivia Muriel and Grayson Hall (MSU) def. Lauren McCurley and Amber Williams (MCK) 21-10, 21-8
Flight 3: Olivia Rattler and Brooke Plessner (MSU) def. Jessica Hickel and Hanna Parisio (MCK) 21-15, 21-14
Flight 4: Manuela Niemeyer and MacKenzie Steele (MSU) def. Megan Diercks and Brooke Junker (MCK) 21-9, 21-8
Flight 5: Riley Drew and Addison Crider (MSU) def. Kloi Karban and Brynne Luebbers (MCK) 21-10, 21-14
Eastern Kentucky University 3, Missouri State 2
Flight 1: Paityn Walker and Hannah Keating (EKU) def. Becca Bach and Tylar Garrett (MSU) 21-16, 21-17
Flight 2: Shannon Stone and Sarah Mitchell (EKU) def. Olivia Muriel and Grayson Hall (MSU) 16-21, 21-12, 15-7
Flight 3: Bella Williams and Rachel Mueller (EKU) def. Olivia Rattler and Brooke Plessner (MSU) 21-14, 21-15
Flight 4: Manuela Niemeyer and MacKenzie Steele (MSU) def. Elizabeth Fonvielle and Maddy Campbell (EKU) 21-16, 21-13
Flight 5: Riley Drew and Addison Crider (MSU) def. Arilyn Lee and EK Longergan (EKU) 21-13, 16-21, 15-10
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