Friday, March 18
Ozark, Mo.
11 a.m.
Missouri State University
vs
Missouri Baptist
Hand’s Bears Set to Host Missouri Baptist in Ozark
March 16, 2022 | Beach Volleyball
SPRINGFIELD – Due to forecasted rain, the Missouri State beach volleyball team will host Missouri Baptist for a pair of duals on Friday at the indoor Volleyball Beach Ozark facility in Ozark, Mo.
"The Beach Bears head to Volleyball Beach Ozark in its first ever dual at the dome," Hand said. "The dome has 10 indoor beach courts and a restaurant bar for spectators. Come support your MSU Beach Bears as we take on our neighbors from the north, Missouri Baptist."
The Bears' doubleheader with the Spartans is scheduled for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Arizona Recap
Missouri State went 3-2 last week in Arizona with a pair of wins over Abilene Christian (4-1, 5-0) and a sweep of Arizona Christian (5-0). The Bears' two losses came at the hands of No. 7 Grand Canyon (5-0) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (3-2).
Scouting the Bears
The Bears' seven wins this season have match their total from last season and is tied for the second most in a season all-time. Missouri State has swept Huntingdon, Arizona Christian, and Abilene Christian this season.
This season, Grace Cook and Chloe Tome lead the Bears with an 11-1 mark in the No. 2 spot. The duo's 22-4 career record is the best mark all-time among Missouri State pairs. Cook and Tome also hold a program-best 14-dual when streak.
The No. 5 pair of Parker McAllen and Olivia Rattler hold an 8-4 record this season. All eight of their wins have come courtesy of sweeps.
Scouting the Spartans
Missouri Baptist is 3-6 this season with a pair of wins over Bryant and Stratton College (5-0, 5-0) and Ottawa (3-2).
The Spartans are highlighted by the No. 2 duo of Nathiellen Machado and Isidora Stojovic who went 5-0 in the MBU Beach Volleyball tournament in Chesterfield, Mo., March 3-4.
MO Baptist is scheduled to play four matches against Park, Wayne State, Ottawa and Oklahoma Wesleyan today (March 16) at the Ottawa Tournament in Shawnee, Kan.
Hand at the Helm
Gretchen Hand was named the third head coach in Missouri State Beach Volleyball on July 2, 2021, by Athletic Director Kyle Moats. Hand comes to Missouri State after spending the last two-and-a-half years as director of volleyball at Webber International University in Babson Park, Fla. During her tenure with the Warriors, she worked with the men's and women's indoor programs in addition to the beach team and contributed to the beach team's conference title and NAIA national fourth-place finish in 2019. As a player, Hand competed professionally from 2001-2015. She had main-draw finishes in the AVP (American Volleyball Professionals), the NVL (National Volleyball League), Corona Wide Open, the EVP (Extreme Volleyball Professionals) and the FIVB, competing across the United States, Brazil, Colombia, Ireland and Thailand.
On Jan. 2, 2022, Hand announced the addition of assistant coach Carol Welcher, who comes to Missouri State with nearly 20 years of coaching and playing experience at the national, collegiate, club, and high school levels. She was the assistant coach for UCSD's women's volleyball team for the 2016-2017 season. Before UCSD, Welcher was also the head coach and director of the girl's varsity volleyball program at Mater Dei Catholic High School in Chula Vista and coached for La Jolla Volleyball Club and Beach Dig, both located in San Diego. Welcher competed in four years of professional indoor volleyball as a player in Finland, France, Germany, and Switzerland. She also spent seven years on the AVP's beach tour.
Bears in the CCSA
Missouri State officially joined the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association on Dec. 13, 2019. The Bears will vie for a title in the six-team league at the CCSA Tournament on April 28-30.
Up Next
The Bears head to Conway, Arkansas on March 25 where they will take on Stephen F. Austin at noon and Central Arkansas at 4 p.m.
"The Beach Bears head to Volleyball Beach Ozark in its first ever dual at the dome," Hand said. "The dome has 10 indoor beach courts and a restaurant bar for spectators. Come support your MSU Beach Bears as we take on our neighbors from the north, Missouri Baptist."
The Bears' doubleheader with the Spartans is scheduled for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Arizona Recap
Missouri State went 3-2 last week in Arizona with a pair of wins over Abilene Christian (4-1, 5-0) and a sweep of Arizona Christian (5-0). The Bears' two losses came at the hands of No. 7 Grand Canyon (5-0) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (3-2).
Scouting the Bears
The Bears' seven wins this season have match their total from last season and is tied for the second most in a season all-time. Missouri State has swept Huntingdon, Arizona Christian, and Abilene Christian this season.
This season, Grace Cook and Chloe Tome lead the Bears with an 11-1 mark in the No. 2 spot. The duo's 22-4 career record is the best mark all-time among Missouri State pairs. Cook and Tome also hold a program-best 14-dual when streak.
The No. 5 pair of Parker McAllen and Olivia Rattler hold an 8-4 record this season. All eight of their wins have come courtesy of sweeps.
Scouting the Spartans
Missouri Baptist is 3-6 this season with a pair of wins over Bryant and Stratton College (5-0, 5-0) and Ottawa (3-2).
The Spartans are highlighted by the No. 2 duo of Nathiellen Machado and Isidora Stojovic who went 5-0 in the MBU Beach Volleyball tournament in Chesterfield, Mo., March 3-4.
MO Baptist is scheduled to play four matches against Park, Wayne State, Ottawa and Oklahoma Wesleyan today (March 16) at the Ottawa Tournament in Shawnee, Kan.
Hand at the Helm
Gretchen Hand was named the third head coach in Missouri State Beach Volleyball on July 2, 2021, by Athletic Director Kyle Moats. Hand comes to Missouri State after spending the last two-and-a-half years as director of volleyball at Webber International University in Babson Park, Fla. During her tenure with the Warriors, she worked with the men's and women's indoor programs in addition to the beach team and contributed to the beach team's conference title and NAIA national fourth-place finish in 2019. As a player, Hand competed professionally from 2001-2015. She had main-draw finishes in the AVP (American Volleyball Professionals), the NVL (National Volleyball League), Corona Wide Open, the EVP (Extreme Volleyball Professionals) and the FIVB, competing across the United States, Brazil, Colombia, Ireland and Thailand.
On Jan. 2, 2022, Hand announced the addition of assistant coach Carol Welcher, who comes to Missouri State with nearly 20 years of coaching and playing experience at the national, collegiate, club, and high school levels. She was the assistant coach for UCSD's women's volleyball team for the 2016-2017 season. Before UCSD, Welcher was also the head coach and director of the girl's varsity volleyball program at Mater Dei Catholic High School in Chula Vista and coached for La Jolla Volleyball Club and Beach Dig, both located in San Diego. Welcher competed in four years of professional indoor volleyball as a player in Finland, France, Germany, and Switzerland. She also spent seven years on the AVP's beach tour.
Bears in the CCSA
Missouri State officially joined the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association on Dec. 13, 2019. The Bears will vie for a title in the six-team league at the CCSA Tournament on April 28-30.
Up Next
The Bears head to Conway, Arkansas on March 25 where they will take on Stephen F. Austin at noon and Central Arkansas at 4 p.m.
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