FLORENCE, Ala. - Missouri State beach volleyball (10-1) completed its expedited stint at the Shoals Beach Bash with a pair of wins across three matches on Friday at UNA Beach Volleyball Courts. The Bears opened the day with a quick sweep over Tusculum before suffering their first loss of the season to host North Alabama, 3-0, in a match that went to the clinching point. MoState ended the tournament on a winning note with a tight victory over Chattanooga, 3-2.

Saturday's matches of the Shoals Beach Bash have been canceled due to oncoming weather. Missouri State was scheduled to play Austin Peay State.

"The weather threw us a curveball, forcing us to switch from a two-day format to just one," head coach Ashley Emery said. "As a player, making that adjustment is never easy. North Alabama did everything they could under the circumstances to accommodate, and we are truly appreciative of their efforts."

Missouri State 5, Tusculum 0

Missouri State improved its season-starting winning streak to nine matches with a 5-0 sweep over Tusculum (4-6). The Bears were tested in their first match away from Missouri, with three of the five flights going to a fifth set. 

Rylie Cepicky and Manuela Niemeyer had the smoothest path to victory at Flight No. 4. The freshman/junior defeated Katie Murphy and Sophia Richmond, 21-8, 21-14. At Flight No. 3, Maddie Schrandt and Morgan Sprague also made quick work of Mia Johnson and Kassidy Mercado, 21-18, 21-12.

Becca Bach and Allyson Larkin went the distance in all three of their sets at Flight No. 1 against Hannah March and Brynn Smith. The Bears pair needed an extra point to win the first set and dropped a lengthy second set, but reclaimed glory in the final set for a 22-20, 19-21, 15-12 win.

Much of the same could be said of MacKenzie Steele and Amanda Cleary at Flight No. 2. The Bears won the first set before dropping an extended second frame. The long-tenured duo secured the victory and maintained their perfect record, 21-15, 20-22, 15-11.

Olivia Rattler and Erin Eschleman pulled off a comeback victory at Flight No. 5. After dropping the first set, the two rallied with a solid second set before capping it off in the final set for the win, 18-21, 21-12, 15-10.

North Alabama 3,  Missouri State 0

The second match of the day saw the Bears drop a 3-0 decision to North Alabama for their first loss of the season.

Bach and Larkin forced Katy Floyd and Selma Robinson to score 24 points in the first set to claim the lead. The Lions pairing handed the Bears their first defeat at No. 1, 24-22. 21-15.

Schrandt and Sprague hung around for a while in the second set against Aurora Bibolotti and Paige Griner on Flight No. 2. However, it was not enough to force a third set as the Lions took the point, 21-17, 26-24.

Rattler and Eschleman forced a long bout in the second set as well against Kaitlyn Holbrook and Hailey Benesz, but North Alabama secured the win, 21-18, 23-21.

The matches at Flight Nos. 2 and 4 went unfinished.

Missouri State 3, Chattanooga 2

The Bears ended the tournament with a 3-2 win over Chattanooga (8-4) in MSU's first match of the season not to end in a team sweep.

 "I'm really proud of the team for stepping up and grinding through the day," Emery said. "It's always tough to bounce back from a tough loss, but we gathered as a team, refocused and channeled our energy into making the most of the day."

Bach and Larkin recovered from the loss against North Alabama with a pair of 21-18 set wins at Flight No. 1 against Corina Vale and Neva Clark to keep their pair record consistent with the team's at 10-1.

Steele and Cleary extended their winning streak to 10 matches at No. 2 with a straight-set win over McKenna Faychak and Maddie Lecik, 21-19, 21-15. The two wins by Steele and Cleary on Friday bring their career total as a pair to 30. They are five wins away from tying the program record for wins by a duo set by Grace Cook and Chloe Tome.

Schrandt and Sprague dropped their second close battle of the night at No. 3. The Chattanooga pairing of Paige Gallentine and Kit Gresham needed a few more points to put away the first set before taking the match win, 23-21, 21-17.

At Flight No. 4, Cepicky and Niemeyer also extended their winning streak with a sweep that played out similarly to the one at No. 3, 22-20, 21-17.

The Mocs duo of Sydney Jackwin and Ansley Gulledge were also taken to the brink in the final set by Rattler and Eschleman, but secured the win at No. 5, 21-18, 22-20.

"There's nothing like getting back on the bus after a solid win and finishing on a high," Emery said. "We got some valuable takeaways from the day to work on before we head to Florida at the end of the month."

Up Next

Missouri State will have next weekend off before it sets sail for the Battle on the Bay Tournament on March 28-29 in St. Petersburg, Florida.