Friday, March 25
Conway, Ark.
Noon
Missouri State University
vs
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin, Central Arkansas up Next for Beach Bears
March 24, 2022 | Beach Volleyball
SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri State beach volleyball team is set to travel to Conway, Ark., for a pair of duals with Stephen F. Austin and Central Arkansas on Friday, March 25.
The Bears' will open play with Stephen F. Austin at Noon before taking on Central Arkansas in the nightcap at 4 p.m.
Missouri Baptist Recap
Missouri State went 2-0 last week in their inaugural duals at Beach Volleyball Ozark as the Bears swept their doubleheader with Missouri Baptist (5-0,4-1). Grace Cook and Chloe Tome broke their own single-season program pairs win record by winning their 13th match.
Scouting the Bears
This season, the Bears' nine wins are the second-most in a season all-time. Â Missouri State has swept Missouri Baptist, Huntingdon, Arizona Christian, and Abilene Christian this season.
This season, Cook and Tome lead the Bears with a 13-1 mark in the No. 2 spot. The duo's 24-4 career record is the best mark all-time among Missouri State pairs. Cook and Tome also held a program-best 14-dual win streak.
The No. 5 pair of Parker McAllen and Olivia Rattler hold an 10-4 record this season. All 10 of their wins have come courtesy of sweeps.
The MSU roster features 10 newcomers and seven returnees.
Scouting the Opponents
Stephen F. Austin is 10-10 this season and carries a three-game winning streak into Friday's match against Missouri State. Last weekend the Lady Jacks fell to Southeastern Louisiana (3-2) and Central Arkansas (4-1) before defeating Hendrix (5-0), Abilene Christian (5-0) and Mary-Hardin Baylor (5-0).
Central Arkansas is 7-5 on the season with a six-game winning streak. Last weekend at the Stephen F. Austin Spring Tournament, the Bears went 4-0 with wins over Abilene Christian (5-0), Stephen F. Austin (4-1), Southeastern Louisiana (4-1) and Mary Hardin-Baylor (5-0). Last season, Missouri State fell to Central Arkansas in a 3-2 nail-biter on March 26 at the Allison Sand Volleyball Courts.
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.
Â
Up Next
The Bears head to Martin, Tenn., April 1-2, where they will take on Liberty (2 p.m.) and Ottawa (4 p.m.) on April 1 before facing Tulane (9 a.m.) and UT-Martin (3 p.m.) on April 2.
Â
The Bears' will open play with Stephen F. Austin at Noon before taking on Central Arkansas in the nightcap at 4 p.m.
Missouri Baptist Recap
Missouri State went 2-0 last week in their inaugural duals at Beach Volleyball Ozark as the Bears swept their doubleheader with Missouri Baptist (5-0,4-1). Grace Cook and Chloe Tome broke their own single-season program pairs win record by winning their 13th match.
Scouting the Bears
This season, the Bears' nine wins are the second-most in a season all-time. Â Missouri State has swept Missouri Baptist, Huntingdon, Arizona Christian, and Abilene Christian this season.
This season, Cook and Tome lead the Bears with a 13-1 mark in the No. 2 spot. The duo's 24-4 career record is the best mark all-time among Missouri State pairs. Cook and Tome also held a program-best 14-dual win streak.
The No. 5 pair of Parker McAllen and Olivia Rattler hold an 10-4 record this season. All 10 of their wins have come courtesy of sweeps.
The MSU roster features 10 newcomers and seven returnees.
Scouting the Opponents
Stephen F. Austin is 10-10 this season and carries a three-game winning streak into Friday's match against Missouri State. Last weekend the Lady Jacks fell to Southeastern Louisiana (3-2) and Central Arkansas (4-1) before defeating Hendrix (5-0), Abilene Christian (5-0) and Mary-Hardin Baylor (5-0).
Central Arkansas is 7-5 on the season with a six-game winning streak. Last weekend at the Stephen F. Austin Spring Tournament, the Bears went 4-0 with wins over Abilene Christian (5-0), Stephen F. Austin (4-1), Southeastern Louisiana (4-1) and Mary Hardin-Baylor (5-0). Last season, Missouri State fell to Central Arkansas in a 3-2 nail-biter on March 26 at the Allison Sand Volleyball Courts.
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.
Â
Up Next
The Bears head to Martin, Tenn., April 1-2, where they will take on Liberty (2 p.m.) and Ottawa (4 p.m.) on April 1 before facing Tulane (9 a.m.) and UT-Martin (3 p.m.) on April 2.
Â
#BearsUnite
Players Mentioned
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
/ Beach Volleyball
Monday, June 22
Wednesday, June 17
Wednesday, June 17
Wednesday, June 17
