Match Results (PDF)
FORT WORTH, Texas – The Missouri State Beach volleyball team dropped a close, 3-2, battle with Texas here Friday afternoon, in the team's first match of the Fight in the Fort.
The Bears muscled out two points on the day, earning victories in the fourth and fifth flights, while the top three pairs suffered hard-fought losses.
In flight four, MacKenzie Steele and Manuela Niemeyer earned a come-from-behind, three-set victory over the Longhorns pair of Bella Bergmark and Reilly Heinrich. After dropping the first set 19-21, the freshman duo bounced back to take the final two sets, 21-15, 15-13 to get the win and improve to 10-3 on the year.
Also earning a win on day one of the tournament, were Addison Crider and Riley Drew playing in the fifth position for the Bears. Crider and Drew made quick work of the Texas pair, Asjia O'Neal and Ella Swidle, beating them in straight sets, 21-11, 21-19.
In the top three flights, however, the Bears couldn't get the edge, as Grayson Hall and Olivia Muriel fell to Molly Phillips and Madisen Skinner (26-24, 21-13) in the Bears top flight. Playing in the second and third spots against Texas, Tylar Garrett and Becca Bach and Olivia Rattler and Madalyn Bass also dropped matches, falling to their opponents in close matches with scores of 21-18, 21-18 and 21-19, 21-15, respectively.
The Bears continue the tournament on Saturday when they face off against No. 14 FIU and No. 9 Cal with the first match beginning at 7 a.m. and the second kicking off at 3 p.m.
Results
Texas 3, Missouri State 2
1. Molly Phillips/Madisen Skinner (TEXAS) def. Grayson Hall/Olivia Muriel (MSU) 26-24, 21-13
2. Keonilei Akana/Devi Kahahawai (TEXAS) def. Tylar Garrett/Becca Bach (MSU) 21-18, 21-18 3. Jenna Wenaas/Mariana Crownover (TEXAS) def. Olivia Rattler/Madalyn Bass (MSU) 21-19, 21-15
4. MacKenzie Steele/Manuela Niemeyer (MSU) def. Bella Bergmark/Reilly Heinrich (TEXAS) 19-21, 21-15, 15-13
5. Addison Crider/Riley Drew (MSU) def. Asjia O'Neal/Ella Swidle (TEXAS) 21-11, 21-19
Ext. Brooke Plessner/Sydney Sampson (MSU) def. Marianna Singletary/Kenna Miller (TEXAS) 21-11, 21-16
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