Friday, April 23
Huntsville, Ala.
11:30 AM
Missouri State University
vs
LSU
Beach Bears Set for CCSA Championships
April 22, 2021 | Beach Volleyball
SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri State beach volleyball team (7-6) starts postseason play this weekend as the Beach Bears compete in the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association Championships at the John Hunt Park Sand Volleyball Complex in Huntsville, Ala. Â
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"This will be our first time here since last year was canceled due to covid," head coach Russ Friedland said. "It's really exciting to be playing in a postseason tournament. The field is so strong and the team is excited to compete. We have been working on a few specific things over the past few weeks in practice that will help us succeed this weekend. I am excited to see us put those into our play. We are really grateful for our overall health and for the opportunity to play in this conference tournament."Â Â
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The Bears will be competing as the No. 7 seed and will open the tournament against a more than formidable opponent in the nationally-ranked LSU Tigers who are seeded second. First serve for the Bears dual against LSU is set for 11:30 a.m. on Friday. If the Bears win, they will play the winner of TCU and the College of Charleston on Saturday at 10 a.m. If the Bears lose, they will face the loser of TCU and the College of Charleston. Â
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The Bracket Â
The 2021 CCSA Beach Volleyball Championship will be a two-bracket tournament contested over three days. College of Charleston, Florida State, LSU, Missouri State, South Carolina, TCU, Tulane and UNC Wilmington will compete within the Aqua bracket. Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Georgia State, Louisiana Monroe, Southern Mississippi and UAB will comprise the Blue bracket. The Aqua bracket will follow the NCAA's eight-team, double-elimination format. The Blue bracket will adhere to the ASUN's six-team, double-elimination format. The two brackets will be separate tournaments as each will crown a champion. Â
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Aqua Bracket
1. Florida State
2. LSU
3. TCU
4. South Carolina
5. Tulane
6. College of Charleston
7. Missouri State
8. UNCWÂ Â
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Blue Bracket
1. Georgia State
2. Florida Atlantic
3. Florida International
4. UAB
5. Southern Miss
6. Louisiana Monroe
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The Opponent Â
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LSU comes into the dual as the No. 4 team in the country according to the last AVCA poll on April 20. The Tigers are 22-5 with wins over seven nationally-ranked opponents. LSU swept Louisiana Monroe in its last contest. The Tigers' roster features Kristen Nuss who is the all-time winningest player in collegiate beach volleyball. She currently holds a 39-match winning streak dating back to last season. She pairs with Taryn Kloth at the No. 1 spot where they are 27-0 this season. The head coach of the Tigers is Russel Brock who is in his eighth season at the helm with a record of 119-37. Â
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Arizona Invitational Recap Â
Last time out Missouri State went 1-3 in the Arizona Invitational on April 2-3. MSU defeated Colorado Mesa (4-1) before falling to No. 8 Pepperdine (5-0), No. 13 Arizona (1-4) and UC Davis (1-4). Grace Cook and Chloe Tome highlighted the MSU efforts by going 3-1, with wins over Colorado Mesa, Arizona and UC Davis.  Â
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Season Recap Â
Bears in the CCSAÂ Â
Missouri State officially joined the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association on Dec. 13, 2019. This will be the Bears first appearance in the conference tournament as last years tournament was canceled due to Covid-19. Â
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Take a Look Ahead Â
If the Bears win the CCSA tournament, they will be competing in the NCAA Championship May 1-3.Â
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"This will be our first time here since last year was canceled due to covid," head coach Russ Friedland said. "It's really exciting to be playing in a postseason tournament. The field is so strong and the team is excited to compete. We have been working on a few specific things over the past few weeks in practice that will help us succeed this weekend. I am excited to see us put those into our play. We are really grateful for our overall health and for the opportunity to play in this conference tournament."Â Â
Â
The Bears will be competing as the No. 7 seed and will open the tournament against a more than formidable opponent in the nationally-ranked LSU Tigers who are seeded second. First serve for the Bears dual against LSU is set for 11:30 a.m. on Friday. If the Bears win, they will play the winner of TCU and the College of Charleston on Saturday at 10 a.m. If the Bears lose, they will face the loser of TCU and the College of Charleston. Â
Â
The Bracket Â
The 2021 CCSA Beach Volleyball Championship will be a two-bracket tournament contested over three days. College of Charleston, Florida State, LSU, Missouri State, South Carolina, TCU, Tulane and UNC Wilmington will compete within the Aqua bracket. Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Georgia State, Louisiana Monroe, Southern Mississippi and UAB will comprise the Blue bracket. The Aqua bracket will follow the NCAA's eight-team, double-elimination format. The Blue bracket will adhere to the ASUN's six-team, double-elimination format. The two brackets will be separate tournaments as each will crown a champion. Â
Â
Aqua Bracket
1. Florida State
2. LSU
3. TCU
4. South Carolina
5. Tulane
6. College of Charleston
7. Missouri State
8. UNCWÂ Â
Â
Blue Bracket
1. Georgia State
2. Florida Atlantic
3. Florida International
4. UAB
5. Southern Miss
6. Louisiana Monroe
 Â
The Opponent Â
Â
LSU comes into the dual as the No. 4 team in the country according to the last AVCA poll on April 20. The Tigers are 22-5 with wins over seven nationally-ranked opponents. LSU swept Louisiana Monroe in its last contest. The Tigers' roster features Kristen Nuss who is the all-time winningest player in collegiate beach volleyball. She currently holds a 39-match winning streak dating back to last season. She pairs with Taryn Kloth at the No. 1 spot where they are 27-0 this season. The head coach of the Tigers is Russel Brock who is in his eighth season at the helm with a record of 119-37. Â
Â
Arizona Invitational Recap Â
Last time out Missouri State went 1-3 in the Arizona Invitational on April 2-3. MSU defeated Colorado Mesa (4-1) before falling to No. 8 Pepperdine (5-0), No. 13 Arizona (1-4) and UC Davis (1-4). Grace Cook and Chloe Tome highlighted the MSU efforts by going 3-1, with wins over Colorado Mesa, Arizona and UC Davis.  Â
 Â
Season Recap Â
- Grace Cook and Chloe Tome lead the Bears with an 11-2 record while competing in the No. 2 flight. The pair's 11 wins in a single season are a program best. They also tied an MSU record with seven-straight wins in a single flight. Â
- MSU has recorded two shutouts this season as both came against Ottawa on March 25-26. Â
- The Bears have wins over Ottawa (4), Houston Baptist, New Orleans and Colorado-Mesa. Â
- Chloe Filipski and Tylar Garrett have a 6-7 record while competing in the No. 1 spot. In the No. 3 spot the Bears are led by Kylee Davis and Parker McAllen who are 6-6 this season. The No. 4 duo of Pam Jaime and Tory Penick are 7-6 this season. Rounding out the MSU lineup in the No. 5 spot is Gala Galabova and Brooke Plessner as they have an overall record of 6-7. Â
- The Bears are led by Russ Friedland who is in his first season at the helm. He is assisted by AJ Lux who is also in her first season with the Bears. Â
Bears in the CCSAÂ Â
Missouri State officially joined the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association on Dec. 13, 2019. This will be the Bears first appearance in the conference tournament as last years tournament was canceled due to Covid-19. Â
Â
Take a Look Ahead Â
If the Bears win the CCSA tournament, they will be competing in the NCAA Championship May 1-3.Â
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#BearsUniteÂ
Players Mentioned
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