SPRINGFIELD - Missouri State University beach volleyball opens its 2026 campaign this weekend, hosting the Missouri State Tournament on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 20–21, at Volleyball Beach Ozark in Ozark, Missouri. Admission is free for all fans.
The Bears begin their ninth season as a program and look to build momentum entering the new year after the league announced Thursday that Ally Larkin was named to the 2026 Conference USA Preseason All-Conference Team.
Full Tournament Schedule
Friday, Feb. 20
9:00 a.m.: Missouri State vs. Mckendree
11:00 a.m.: Lindenwood vs. Eastern Illinois
1:00 p.m.: Central Arkansas vs. McKendree
3:00 p.m.: Missouri State vs. Lindenwood
5:00 p.m.: Lindenwood vs. Central Arkansas
Saturday, Feb. 21
8:00 a.m.: Missouri State vs. Eastern Illinois
10:00 a.m.: Lindenwood vs. Central Arkansas
12:00 p.m.: Eastern Illinois vs. McKendree
2:00 p.m.: Missouri State vs. Central Arkansas
4:00 p.m.: McKendree vs. Lindenwood
Looking Ahead
- Missouri State is scheduled for 28 regular-season matches in 2026, one more than last year's 27. The Bears will play eight matches in Ozark across the opening two weekends and will host one home contest at the Betty & Bobby Allison Sand Volleyball Courts in early April for Senior Night.
- This year's roster comprises of 16 players, including 9 returners: Manuela Niemeyer, Maddie Schrandt, MacKenzie Steele, Amanda Cleary, Allyson Larkin, Gabby Liles, Rylie Cepicky, Morgan Bos and Jaycee Fixsen.
- One of Missouri State's seven newcomers, Reagan Baade, joins the beach roster from the Bears' indoor volleyball program, while Logan Kaneshiro arrives as a transfer from Bushnell.
Last Season in Review
- Missouri State finished the 2025 season with an 18-10 overall record and holds a 132-52 all-time program mark across all five flights.
- The Bears went a perfect 11-0 at home last season and have not dropped a home contest since March 4, 2023, against Eastern Kentucky.
Series History
- Missouri State holds a 1-0 series lead over Eastern Illinois, with the only win coming at home for the bears in 2024.
- The Bears are 3-0 all-time against the McKendree Bearcats with all matches being 5-0 sweeps for Missouri State.
- MoState also holds a 3-1 record against Central Arkansas.
- Missouri State is 5-0 all-time against the Lindenwood Lions, including two sweeps last season.
Head Coach Ashley Emery
- Ashley Emery enters her fourth season at the helm of Missouri State beach volleyball and is now the longest-tenured head coach in program history. She brings a 53-30 career record into the 2026 campaign, the most wins by any head coach in the program's history.
- Emery spent the 2021 season as a volunteer assistant for the MSU indoor volleyball team after three seasons as an assistant at Drury University, where she helped the Panthers to the program's first regular season Great Lakes Valley Conference championship and their first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in 2018.
- She served as the interim volleyball head coach at Missouri S&T for the 2017 season following five years as a high school coach in Oklahoma where she led the Broken Arrow varsity team to three state tournament appearances from 2014 to 2016.
- Emery guided Edison Prep in Tulsa to the school's first-ever state tournament appearances in 2012 and 2013. She was named the Green County Coach of the Year in 2013.
- A native of Osceola, Missouri, the former Ashley Jurgensmeyer played indoor volleyball at Southwest Baptist University where she is still the all-time leader in kills (1,156), attack percentage (.303) and points (1,419).
- As a beach player, Emery competed on the Association of Volleyball Professionals semi-pro tour AVPNext from 2014-16 and earned an A-level ranking.
Bears in Conference USA
- Missouri State beach volleyball enters its third season as a member of Conference USA after announcing the move on May 11, 2023. The Bears went 1-3 against CUSA opponents last season, including the 2025 CUSA Tournament.
- The Bears will compete in its third CUSA Tournament running from April 23-25 at Sugar Beach in Youngsville, Louisiana.
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