OZARK, Mo. - The Missouri State beach volleyball team secured a perfect 5-0 record in its opening home tournament, earning three wins on Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe, Lindenwood and Oklahoma Wesleyan. The Bears have started back-to-back seasons by going undefeated in the first weekend of play.

"What a great way to start our weekend 5-0 at home," head coach Ashley Emery said. "We had a nail-biter against ULM coming down to Flight No. 5 in three sets for the win."

Missouri State 3 - Louisiana Monroe 2

On flight No. 1, Becca Bach and Manuela Niemeyer had an ongoing battle with ULM's Madeline Marquez and Kaitlyn Nowak. The Bears broke a late tie in the first set to take the advantage, but the Warhawks fought back to win the second set and went on a 9-5 run to close the final frame to win, 18-21, 21-15, 15-11.

The match on flight No. 2 was an even battle with Kaitlyn Beck and Claire Williamson of ULM winning identical sets against MacKenzie Steele and Amanda Cleary. The first set was tied at 19, but the Warhawks took two quick points to take the set lead. After more back-and-forth, Beck and Williamson came out on the winning end, 21-19, 21-19.

Olivia Muriel and Erin Eschleman came up huge in flight No. 3, securing the first set with ease and coming back from an earlier deficit in an extended second set to win over Tamsie Black and Kaylie Beck, 21-15, 24-22.

On flight No. 4, Kenzi McSpadden and Allyson Larkin built off strong performances from the first day of the tournament with a 21-14, 21-19 win against Abby Ryno and Katie Felts. The Bears managed to turn a 14-14 tie in the second set into a straight-set sweep.

Brooke Plessner and Maddie Schrandt were clutch on flight No. 5 by taking control of the third set after battling hard in the first two. In the first set, the Bears kept ULM's Eden Anderson and Kate Taylor stuck at match point for a handful of points, forcing them to take a timeout before eventually taking the opening set, 21-18. From behind, Plessner and Schrandt extended the match with a crucial 22-20 win in the second set. With the team win on the line and the third set tied at four, the Bears won five of the next seven points and never looked back to clinch the match with a 15-11 set win.

"I have to shout out Brooke Plessner for leading her young freshman partner to a victory," Emery said. "As a freshman, Maddie took control and owned the finish."

Missouri State 5 - Lindenwood 0

The Bear used the momentum from the nail-biting win in the morning to fuel their sweep over the Lindenwood Lions in the early afternoon.

Bach and Niemeyer found hard competition in Maider Soto and Katie Malzahn on the Lindenwood side. Bach played against both Lions exactly one year ago today in last year's first Mo State Tournament. This season, she and Niemeyer nabbed the same result as last year, winning a tight battle, where both sets were once tied at 18 with a final score of 22-10, 21-18.

Steele and Cleary were once again the first pair to finish their match, this time in a victory. The two took the lead early against Nyah Wilson and Taylor Gentemann to capture the win, 21-15, 21-13.

On flight No. 3, Muriel and Eschleman kept the Lions pairing of Abby Jacobs and Annalie McWhorter at arm's length in their win, 21-18, 21-13. 

"Erin and Olivia make it hard for teams to know who they should serve," Emery said. "They are a fun pair to watch."

Flight No. 4 had a very similar result. McSpadden and Larkin set the tone early in both sets against Jessie Seidel and Kailee McGee. The Bears doubled up the Lions 10-5 in the first set and 12-6 in the second set to cruise to a 21-10, 21-17 victory.

Lindenwood brought another returning pair from last year to Flight No. 5, putting Amber Schade and Elise Llorens together as they were last year at No. 3. Plessner was on the other end of that pair last season as well in a three-set thriller. This year, she and Schrandt had a smoother go at it, winning 21-11, 21-14, to complete the full match sweep.

Missouri State 5 - Oklahoma Wesleyan 0

The Bears ended Mo State Tournament 1 with a bang late Saturday afternoon with a dominant 5-0 effort over the Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles.

Oklahoma Wesleyan scored its most points on flight No. 1, but Bach and Niemeyer didn't flinch against Allison Howard and Sydney Collins to take the win 21-15, 21-12.

Steele and Cleary won identical sets on flight No. 2 against Ashlynn Farell and Maddy McKinney, keeping the Eagles in single digits through both sets in their 21-8, 21-8 win.

The same could be said for the Bears on flight No. 3 for Muriel and Eschleman, defeating Natalie Ater and Elizabeth Hope, 21-9, 21-6.

On flight No. 4, McSpadden and Larkin were strong in their outing against Jordan Isbell and Angelina Arvizu. The Bears started each set on a 6-1 run and never looked back, winning 21-6, 21-10.

"Ally and Kenzi being thrown together just this week came in clutch not dropping a match for us," Emery said.

Lastly, Plessner and Schrandt had little trouble against Claira Warren and Avery Forman, securing another Bears sweep with a 21-6, 21-7 victory.

"We have some takeaways that we can improve on going forward, but nonetheless, we are looking forward to another great weekend ahead," Emery said.

Missouri State will be back in action for another five matches next weekend also at Volleyball Beach Ozark for Mo State Tournament 2 on Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2.

Results

Missouri State 3 - Louisiana Monroe 2

Flight 1: Madeline Marquez/Kaitlyn Nowak (ULM) def. Becca Bach/Manuela Niemeyer: 18-21, 21-15, 15-11

Flight 2: Kaitlyn Beck/Claire Williamson (ULM) def. MacKenzie Steele/Amanda Cleary (MSU): 21-19, 21-19

Flight 3: Olivia Muriel/Erin Eschleman (MSU) def. Tamsie Black/Kaylie Beck: 21-15, 24-22

Flight 4: Kenzi McSpadden/Allyson Larkin (MSU) def. Abby Ryno/Katie Felts (ULM): 21-14, 21-19

Flight 5: Brooke Plessner/Maddie Schrandt (MSU) def. Eden Anderson/Kate Taylor (ULM): 18-21, 22-20, 15-11

Order of Finish: 2, 4, 3, 1, 5

Missouri State 5 - Lindenwood 0

Flight 1: Becca Bach/Manuela Niemeyer (MSU) def. Maider Soto/Kaite Malzahn (LIN): 22-20, 21-18

Flight 2: MacKenzie Steele/Amanda Cleary (MSU) def. Nyah Wilson/Taylor Gentemann (LIN): 21-15, 21-13

Flight 3: Olivia Muriel/Erin Eschleman (MSU) def. Abby Jacobs/Annalie McWhorter (LIN): 21-18, 21-13

Flight 4: Kenzi McSpadden/Allyson Larkin (MSU) def. Jessie Seidel/Kailee McGee (LIN): 21-10, 21-17

Flight 5: Brooke Plessner/Maddie Schrandt (MSU) def. Amber Schade/Ellise Llorens (LIN): 21-11, 21-14

Order of Finish: 2, 4, 5, 3, 1

Missouri State 5 - Oklahoma Wesleyan 0

Flight 1: Becca Bach/Manuela Niemeyer (MSU) def. Allison Howard/Sydney Collins (OKWU): 21-15, 21-12

Flight 2: MacKenzie Steele/Amanda Cleary (MSU) def. Ashlynn Farrell and Maddy McKinney (OKWU): 21-8, 21-8

Flight 3: Olivia Muriel/Erin Eschleman (MSU) def. Natalie Ater/Elizabeth Hope (OKWU): 21-9, 21-6

Flight 4: Kenzi McSpadden/Allyson Larkin (MSU) def. Jordan Isbell/Angelina Arvizu (OKWU): 21-6, 21-10

Flight 5: Brooke Plessner/Maddie Schrandt (MSU) def. Claira Warren/Avery Forman (OKWU): 21-6, 21-7

Order of Finish: 2, 4, 5, 3, 1