ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Missouri State Beach Volleyball team earned a pair of hard-fought dual victories by defeating the St. Leo Lions (3-2) and Eckerd College Tritons (3-2) on day one of The Battle on the Bay Tournament at the North Shore Beach Volleyball Courts.
 
"The Beach Bears came out hot today," head coach Gretchen Hand said. "We had some new pairings today as freshman Becca Bach and graduate student Grayson Hall had a break out day, going 2-0. Freshman Olivia Rattler and senior Parker McAllen went 2-0. Captains Chloe Tome and Grace Cook continue in a great way by also going 2-0. We look forward to another great day of play tomorrow at The Battle on the Bay."
 
Cook and Tome increased their win streak in the No. 2 flight to nine matches with wins over Leann Potter and Aliyah Fredette-Huffman of St. Leo (21-11, 20-22, 16-14) and Martina Melicherova and Mariana Olivares-Cely of Eckerd College (21-19, 21-8). The pair is now 5-0 on the season and 17-3 in their career.
 
McAllen and Rattler continued their winning ways by sweeping St. Leo's Morgan Maddox and Angela Goggin (21-19, 21-17) in the fifth flight. The No. 5 pair also defeated the Tritons' Nikki Betchold and Tiana Bello, 21-8 and 21-12. McAllen and Rattler now hold a 4-1 record this season.
 
In the No. 3 match, Becca Bach and Grayson Hall used their mix of youth and experience to pick up a win over Claire Flanagan and Brenna Reinhard of St. Leo by the scores of 21-17 and 21-13. The freshman and graduate transfer also picked up a win in their match with Daniella Russo and Sophia Romigh of Eckerd (21-9, 21-10).
 
The Bears fell twice in the No. 1 position as Tylar Garrett and Mya Young were defeated by the Lions' Jeanette Henderson and Nina Vattovaz, 21-18 and 21-10. Joelle Coulter and Kitana Lim of Eckern then defeated the pair, 21-16 and 21-14.
 
The No. 4 duo of Brooke Plessner and Kaeli Kristensen fell to Emma Miller and Ally Reese-Williams of St. Leo (21-19, 20-22, 15-11) in their first match before dropping their final contest to the Tritons' Anna JungJohann and Nicole Perekhodko (21-12, 21-18).
 
Up Next
The Bears (4-1) conclude the Battle at the Bay Tournament Saturday as they face the College of Charleston at 10 a.m. (ET) and Tampa at 2:30 (ET) p.m.

Results 
Missouri State 3, Saint Leo 2

1. Jeanette Henderson/Nina Vattovaz (SLU) def. Tylar Garrett/Mya Young (MOST) 21-18, 21-10
2. Grace Cook/Chloe Tome (MOST) def. Leann Potter/Aliyah Fredette-Huffman (SLU) 21-11, 20-22, 16-14
3. Becca Bach/Grayson Hall (MOST) def. Claire Flanagan/ Brenna Reinhard (SLU) 21-17, 21-13
4. Emma Miller/Ally Reese-Williams (SLU) def. Brooke Plessner/Kaeli Kristensen (MOST) 21-19, 20-22, 15-11
5. Parker McAllen/Olivia Rattler (MOST) def. Amanda Doherty/Elizabeth Sandoval (SLU) 21-19, 21-17

Ext. Madalyn Bass/Chloe Filispki (MOST) def. Morgan Maddox/Angela Goggin (SLU) 15-21, 21-13, 15-10
 
 
Missouri State 3, Eckerd College 2

1. Joelle Coulter/Kitana Lim (EC) def. Tylar Garrett/Mya Young (MOST) 21-16, 21-14
2. Grace Cook/Chloe Tome (MOST) def. Martina Melicherova/Mariana Olivares-Cely (EC) 21-19, 21-8
3. Becca Bach/Grayson Hall (MOST) def. Daniella Russo/ Sophia Romigh (EC) 21-9, 21-10
4. Anna JungJohann/Nicole Perekhodko (EC) def. Brooke Plessner/Kaeli Kristensen (MOST) 21-12, 21-18
5. Parker McAllen/Olivia Rattler (MOST) def. Nicki Belchold/Tiana Bello (EC) 21-8, 21-12