SPRINGFIELD - Missouri State beach volleyball head coach Ashley Emery has announced the team's 2024 schedule, which consists of four home events from February to April and will include the team's first appearance in the Conference USA Tournament. 

"Joining Conference USA is a new adventure for us, so we look forward to what that will bring at the end of April," head coach Ashley Emery said.

Missouri State opens the new season by hosting its first of two early-season tournaments from February 23-24 at Volleyball Beach Ozark in Ozark, Missouri. The Bears open the first day of the tournament at 9:00 a.m. against Hendrix College and at 2:00 p.m. against UT-Martin.

The Bears will play three matches on the second day of the tournament (University of Louisiana-Monroe at 10:00 a.m., Lindenwood at 1:00 p.m. and Oklahoma Wesleyan at 3:00 p.m.).

Missouri State will start its second two-day tournament in Ozark on March 1 against Southwest Baptist University at 8:00 a.m. and Eastern Illinois at 2:00 p.m. The Bears will conclude the tournament the following day against Park University at 8:00 a.m., Lindenwood at 1:00 p.m. and Oklahoma Wesleyan at 3:00 p.m.

"I really hope to see our fans this spring at Volleyball Beach Ozark in February to showcase this team and all they've been working so hard to accomplish," Emery said.

For the third straight season, Missouri State will compete in the Battle of the Bay hosted by Eckerd College on March 8-9 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Bears will continue its road-tournament stretch the following week for the ULM Bayou Bash on March 15-16 in Monroe, Louisiana and end their road trip as it did last year in Tucson for a tournament hosted by the University of Arizona on March 22-23.

"The team really enjoyed Battle of the Bay and Arizona last season," Emery said. "We are excited to be taking those return trips this season."

Missouri State will return home for their first match at the Betty & Bobby Allison Sand Volleyball Courts against Southwest Baptist and Ottawa starting at 11:00 a.m. on April 6. Missouri State will hit the road one final time during the regular season against Central Arkansas on April 12-13.

"We are adding two new tournaments to our schedule with Louisiana-Monroe and Central Arkansas, looking forward to seeing how we look against some new competition this spring," Emery said. 

The regular season will conclude back at the Betty & Bobby Allison Sand Volleyball Courts as the Bears welcome McKendree and Oklahoma Wesleyan on April 18 starting at 1:00 p.m.

"I'm proud of the work our players put into this fall season," Emery said. "They have bought into working hard as a team and getting better every day. I am ready for them to be able to put their hard work into action this spring."

Missouri State will compete in its first Conference USA Tournament on April 25-27 in Youngsville, Louisiana.