Four Beach Bears Earn AVCA Top Flight Award
May 02, 2024 | Beach Volleyball
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Two Missouri State beach volleyball pairs have been recognized as AVCA Top Flight award winners, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced Thursday morning.
Senior Olivia Muriel and freshman Erin Eschleman earned the distinction for their play at flight No. 3 this past season. The pair played 32 of Missouri State's 33 matches this past season at No. 3, posting a 24-7 record with one match going unfinished. The 24 wins are the second-most by a Bears pair in a single season and is third all-time in career wins by a pairing. Muriel ends her time as a Bear with 33 career wins, tied for sixth-most in program history.Â
Another senior/freshman duo, Brooke Plessner and Maddie Schrandt, also earned the Top Flight Award for their historic season at flight No. 5. The pair played all 33 matches together, with 32 of them at No. 5 with a flight record of 27-4 with one unfinished match. The 27 wins in one season are the most by a pair and individuals in program history.Â
Plessner also ends her career at Missouri State with a team-record 48 career victories. As for Schrandt, her 27 wins this season are the most by a freshman in team history and places her 10th on the program's all-time wins list.
Top Flight awards recognize excellence in collegiate beach volleyball from all over the country and across all flights. Eligible pairs must compete in at least 15 matches together at a specific flight number and win at least 75% of their matches—regardless of the overall result of the dual.
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Senior Olivia Muriel and freshman Erin Eschleman earned the distinction for their play at flight No. 3 this past season. The pair played 32 of Missouri State's 33 matches this past season at No. 3, posting a 24-7 record with one match going unfinished. The 24 wins are the second-most by a Bears pair in a single season and is third all-time in career wins by a pairing. Muriel ends her time as a Bear with 33 career wins, tied for sixth-most in program history.Â
Another senior/freshman duo, Brooke Plessner and Maddie Schrandt, also earned the Top Flight Award for their historic season at flight No. 5. The pair played all 33 matches together, with 32 of them at No. 5 with a flight record of 27-4 with one unfinished match. The 27 wins in one season are the most by a pair and individuals in program history.Â
Plessner also ends her career at Missouri State with a team-record 48 career victories. As for Schrandt, her 27 wins this season are the most by a freshman in team history and places her 10th on the program's all-time wins list.
Top Flight awards recognize excellence in collegiate beach volleyball from all over the country and across all flights. Eligible pairs must compete in at least 15 matches together at a specific flight number and win at least 75% of their matches—regardless of the overall result of the dual.
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