SPRINGFIELD -- A total of nine high school seniors have committed to play for Missouri State's beach volleyball program, head coach Terri Del Conte announced Tuesday. Siena Brewster, Marlayna Bullington, Grace Cook, Eliza Dees, Tylar Garrett, Parker McAllen, Tory Penick, Matea Suan and Chloe Tome will join the Bears next academic year and begin their careers as freshmen in the spring 2020 season.

Siena Brewster • Palo Alto, Calif. • Palo Alto Senior High
Brewster was a three-year varsity starter on the indoor team at Palo Alto Senior High, helping the Vikings to a 24-5 record and top finish in the Central Coast Section Division I her senior year with 33 blocks and 110 kills. She was a member of the first place team at the USA Volleyball Girls Junior Nationals during her sophomore season, and has competed in several beach tournaments in California.

Del Conte on Brewster:
"Siena stood out to me immediately. She gets her job done with a smile and enthusiasm. You can't help but gravitate towards her positive energy and drive. Her raw athletic talent and ability to make every situation better will take her far."


Marlayna Bullington • Portland, Tenn. • Portland High
Bullington piled up 2,160 career kills as a four-year starting outside hitter, helping Portland High to a combined 154-33 record in four seasons, with a 91-13 mark and indoor state titles her final two seasons. She was the state tournament MVP and all-district MVP both seasons, earned first-team all-state honors as a junior, and was the region MVP and a Tennessee Player of the Year nominee as a senior. Among numerous successes on the beach, Bullington earned championships at the 2018 Volley America Nationals and 2018 NVL Global Challenge.

Del Conte on Bullington:
"Marlayna is the whole package. She knows the game so well and can do it all. We can count on her to lead by example. She does her job and makes everyone better simply by being around her."


Grace Cook • Phoenix, Ariz. • Sandra Day O'Connor High
Cook has played in the No. 1 pair for her high school's beach team her sophomore and junior seasons, earning rookie of the year honors in the program's inaugural season in spring 2017. Last season as a junior, Cook was the team MVP on a club that posted an unbeaten record, advancing to the Arizona Division I Final Four. She also earned a top eight finish at the Arizona State Pairs Tournament. Cook played setter and right side for the Sandra Day O'Connor High indoor team.

Del Conte on Cook:
"Grace is a total athlete. She out-hustles opponents on the court and knows how to make big plays. We are especially impressed with how well she plays in the wind. That is usually one of the toughest abilities to train and she's already got it."


Eliza Dees • Marietta, Ga. • Pope High
Dees (pronounced Deez) has twice won the Southern Region Volleyball Association championship in the sand, and had top 10 finishes at the USA Volleyball Nationals on two occasions, earning an invite to the national A1 High Performance Team. A three-year starting setter on the Pope High indoor team, Dees handed out more than 2,000 career assists, earning all-state recognition as a senior and all-region honors as a junior. The Greyhounds advanced to the round of 16 in the state tournament all four of her seasons, going 40-9 with a state title her senior year.

Del Conte on Dees:
"Eliza is a gamer. She has a high beach volleyball IQ and comes from a gifted volleyball family. She is the sweetest person off the court, but on the court she knows how to battle."


Tylar Garrett • Phoenix, Ariz. • Sandra Day O'Connor High
Garrett played for her high school's No. 2 pair during her junior season, finishing with a 12-0 record both with her partner and as a team. She was one of 16 pairs selected for the Arizona State Pairs Tournament. She also owned a 12-0 pairs record her sophomore year in the spring of 2017, and placed ninth overall at the AVP National Championships. Garrett has been a part of multiple top three finishes at AVP and AAU beach events. She is the niece of Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.

Del Conte on Garrett:
"The first thing that caught my attention was Tylar's jumping ability. It's not every day you see someone her height get up so high. With her natural abilities and beach experience, she's going to have a high ceiling for development."


Parker McAllen • Point Pleasant, N.J. • Pt. Pleasant Borough High
McAllen has won numerous tournaments as a member of the Stars and Stripes Beach Volleyball Club, including first place finishes in the Beach Club Series in 2017 and 2018. She owns tournament titles from various AVP and USAV events in the northeast, a first-place finish at the Volley America Nationals in 2017, and a second-place showing at the Relentless Jr. Beach Showcase in California in 2017. McAllen was a setter for Central Jersey Volleyball Academy in the indoor game, and is also a highly-ranked tennis player in New Jersey. 

Del Conte on McAllen:
"Parker is an assertive fireball. Her energy is contagious and she knows how to elevate herself and her partner in any given situation. That trait in itself is rare. We have complete confidence that she is going to be a versatile leader for our Bear Family."


Tory Penick • Eureka, Mo. • Eureka High
Penick was a member of Eureka's High Missouri Class 4 state championship team in 2018, contributing 107 kills and 17 aces as an outside hitter and defensive specialist, earning second-team all-conference honors in her second varsity season. In the sand, Penick placed ninth in the USA Volleyball Beach Nationals 18U and 16U divisions, two of several high finishes on the beach tournament and qualifier circuits.

Del Conte on Penick:
"Tory is a stud. She has exceptional work ethic, a great attitude, and is a physical beast. Tory is a prime example of an athlete you want on your team."


Matea Suan • Gilbert, Ariz. • Perry High
Suan (pronounced Sue-on) is coming off an Arizona state title in the sand for Perry High, boasting an unbeated pairs record as the team MVP and All Premier Arizona Region Player of the Year. Indoors, Suan contributed as a libero and defensive specialist for a team that combined for a 94-17 record her final three seasons. She has twice been named the Player of the Year for the Chandler United School District, as well as earning the Multi-Sport Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.

Del Conte on Suan:
"Matea is so fast in the sand! She has amazing defense and is a very crafty player. Everyone who knows her has endless great things to say about her. Be on the lookout for her to be one of the most fun players to watch."


Chloe Tome • Milwaukee, Wis. • Wauwatosa East High
A four-year starter as a six-rotation player, Tome (toe-may) owns Wauwatosa High records for career kills (1,334), digs (1,428) and aces (158). She led the state of Wisconsin with a .516 hitting percentage as a senior, and collected first-team all-conference honors three times, academic all-state honors three times, and was an honorable mention all-state selection her final two seasons. In the sand, Tome owns multiple first-place finishes on the USAV, JVA and Junior Beach tours.

Del Conte on Tome:
"Chloe is a well-rounded player who is very passionate about beach volleyball. You can't coach passion into someone, which is why she is such an asset. We know she will continuously rise and thrive here. Highly self-motivated, Chloe is ready to compete at the next level."