DALLAS -- Missouri State's beach volleyball program will have a new conference affiliation starting in 2024.  
 
The Beach Bears will part ways with the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) next season to join TCU and Tarleton State as affiliate members of Conference USA. MoState has been affiliated with the CCSA since 2020.  
 
"Adding programs of this pedigree puts us in a position to make a larger imprint nationally in beach volleyball," Conference USA Deputy Commissioner Keisha Dunlap said. "We are very much looking forward to working with each of these three universities, their leadership groups and are very excited about our future for this growing sport within our portfolio." 
 
The three new affiliate members for next season will extend the number of league beach programs to nine. Other C-USA beach volleyball programs for 2024 include: Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Jacksonville State, Tulane, UAB and UTEP. Both FAU and FIU earned NCAA Tournament bids in 2023.  
 
"Missouri State is excited to be joining Conference USA," said Bears head coach Ashley Emery. "We believe we will better suited competitively with Conference USA, and want to help put our student athletes in a position and environment in which they can be pushed to improve. We are looking forward to the 2024 season." 
 
Having just completed its sixth intercollegiate season, Missouri State was 9-13 in Emery's first season at the helm in 2023.