BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Missouri State beach volleyball (16-5) split its final two matches at the Blazer Beach Bash hosted by UAB on Saturday. The Bears responded to being swept in their rematch against Chattanooga in the late morning by defeating Tennessee Tech in the afternoon, 4-1, to end the tournament.

"This morning wasn't our best showing as a team – low energy, off-rhythm and not the performance we're capable of," head coach Ashley Emery said. "After regrouping, meeting as a team and refocusing, we came together and rallied for one final match. I'm proud of the determination this group showed to finish the weekend on a high note."

Chattanooga 5, Missouri State 0

The Bears were handed their first 5-0 loss of the season in the rematch against Chattanooga (18-5). All five flights were direct rematches from the teams' first matchup at the Shoals Beach Bash on March 14, in which the Bears won 3-2.

The Mocs flipped the script in Birmingham in the rematch, handing MoState its first losses at Flight Nos. 2 and 4 of the tournament. Rylie Cepicky and Manuela Niemeyer suffered just their second loss of the season at No. 2. Chattanooga's Joy Courtright and Julia Lawerence repaid the favor in the second matchup of the year with a sweep, 21-19, 21-14.

After tying the program record in wins by a pair with their two victories yesterday, MacKenzie Steele and Amanda Cleary were on the brink of taking sole possession of the record against McKenna Faychak and Maddie Lecik. The Bears battled back after dropping the first set by taking an extended second set to force a third frame. The set stayed tight, but Faychak and Lecik evened the season series with a win, 21-17, 26-28, 15-13.

Olivia Rattler and Erin Eschleman were swept for the second time this season by Chattanooga's Ansley Gulledge and Sydney Jackwin. The Mocs secured the team win at Flight No. 5 with a little less drama compared to their first matchup, 21-16, 21-15.

On Flight No. 3, Maddie Schrandt and Morgan Sprague were felled for the second time this year by Kit Gresham and Paige Gallentine. Chattanooga was able to take the win with identical 21-16 set victories.

Missouri State's last hope to avoid the sweep rested in the hands of Becca Bach and Allyson Larkin, who had defeated Neva Clark and Corina Vale in straight sets last month. Vale and Clark came out strong with a 21-14 win in the first set, but Bach and Larkin set themselves up for what could have been a second comeback win in the tournament for the pair with a 21-19 win in the second set. However, the Mocs shot out of the cannon on the final set to win, 15-7, and secure the final set. 

Chattanooga's sweep was its third of the tournament, having also defeated Southeastern Louisiana and Austin Peay State, 5-0, on Friday.


Missouri State 4, Tennessee Tech 1

MoState ended the Blazer Beach Bash on a high note, taking down Tennessee Tech (3-13) in the first-ever matchup between the two, 4-1.

The Golden Eagles took their only point at Flight No. 2 against MacKenzie Steele and Amanda Cleary, who went 2-2 on the weekend and exited the tournament 15-5 this season. Brooke Amann and Alayna Pierce represented the lone Tennessee Tech point by winning two tightly contested sets, 22-20, 21-19.

It was all Bears from that point forward. Manuela Niemeyer and Rylie Cepicky have yet to lose consecutive matches this season as they knotted the score up at one with their Flight No. 4 victory over Jazmine Yamilkoski and McKenna Young, 21-18, 21-9. Niemeyer and Cepicky went a team-best 3-1 in the tournament and are 18-2 this season, good for the highest winning percentage for a Bears pair this season.

Olivia Rattler and Erin Eschleman also responded well after the morning defeat on No. 5 against Ava Schubert and Emma Pabon. The two Bears also went 2-2 in the tournament and improved to 14-4 when playing together with a 21-9, 21-14 victory to give Missouri State a 2-1 lead with two matches left to finish. Rattler grew her career wins record to 59, while Eschleman tied Chloe Tome for ninth on the program wins list.

On Flight No. 1, Becca Bach and Allyson Larkin secured the MoState victory with their first straight-set victory of the tournament against Jordan Karlen and Bella Powell, 21-15, 21-11. Larkin officially passed Grace Cook for seventh on the Missouri State all-time wins list, while Bach reached 52 career wins while also surpassing 100 career matches played.

Maddie Schrandt and Morgan Sprague put the final cherry on top at Flight No. 3 with a 23-21, 21-16 win over MK Roberts and Aleeya Jones. The Bears pair improved their season record to 15-6 and were one of four Missouri State duos to split their matches in the tournament.

Up Next

Missouri State will head to its final regular season tournament next weekend in Fort Worth, Texas. The Bears will compete in the Fight in the Fort Tournament hosted by TCU. MoState is slated to play Grand Canyon, TCU, Houston Christian and Louisiana-Monroe next Friday and Saturday before playing in the CUSA Tournament at the end of the month.