HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Grace Cook and Chloe Tome grabbed a win in the No. 2 flight as the Missouri State beach volleyball team fell to Tulane, 4-1, to conclude the Beach Bears' season (12-16) in the CCSA Beach Volleyball Championship here at the John Hunt Park Sand Volleyball Complex on Friday morning. 
  
"This CCSA conference tournament was a huge stepping stone in the right direction for MSU beach volleyball," head coach Gretchen Hand said. "Our athletes showed grit, athleticism, and strategies that will move us forward in a very positive way." 
 
Cook and Tome picked up their 18^th sweep of the season as the MSU duo defeated Samantha Mehlman and Sara Hall, 21-12 and 21-17. Cook and Tome finished the season with a record of 23-5, which is the best mark of any pair in program history.  
  
Tulane (23-12) got on the scoreboard with a win in the No. 1 flight courtesy of Kendall Peters and Maddie Speicher, defeating Tylar Garrett and Mya Young (21-10, 21-8). Addison Crider and Kaeli Kristensen put up a fight against Ashton Mares and Lara Tarruella but fell, 21-8 and 21-19 in the No. 3 spot as Tulane extended its lead to 2-0. 
 
Cook and Tome's victory put Missouri State  on the board and decreased the Tulane lead to 2-1 through three matches. In the decisive No. 4 flight, Becca Bach and Brooke Plessner dropped their first frame to Josie Cole and Samantha Green, 21-14. Tulane then clinched the dual with Cole and Green winning the second set, 21-19. 
 
In the No. 5 spot, Parker McAllen and Olivia Rattler were defeated by Tulane's Hailey Gibson and Savka Popovic (21-11, 23-21). McAllen and Rattler finished the season with 17 wins which are the second-most in program history. Rattler's 17 wins are the most by a freshman in program history, shattering the previous mark of 14 set by Kylee Davis in 2019.  
 
The Bears 12 wins under Hand's guidance this season were the most by a first-year head coach in program history.  
 
"Our passion, commitment, and ability as a program will continue to grow to one of the best in the nation," Hand said "The Beach Bear Family has just begun. I want to thank Missouri State University, our families, and the community in addition to our tremendous coaching and support staff." 
  
Results 
  
Tulane 4, Missouri State 1
1. Kendall Peters/Maddie Speicher (TU) def. Tylar Garrett/Mya Young (MSU) 21-10, 21-8 
2. Grace Cook/Chloe Tome (MSU) def. Samantha Mehlman/Sara Hall (TU) 21-12, 21-17 
3. Ashton Mares/Lara Tarruella (TU) def. Addison Crider/Kaeli Kristensen (MSU) 21-8, 21-19 
4. Josie Cole/Samantha Green (TU) def. Becca Bach/Brooke Plessner (MSU) 21–14, 21-19 
5. Haley Gibson/Savka Popovic (TU) def. Parker McAllen/Olivia Rattler (MSU) 21-11, 23-21