OZARK, Mo. - Missouri State beach volleyball delivered another dominant weekend at Volleyball Beach Ozark, going 4-0 at the Beach Bear Bash with victories over Southwest Baptist, Eastern Kentucky, Central Arkansas and Lindenwood. The Bears recorded three 5-0 sweeps and a 4-1 win, finishing the weekend 19-1 in flight play. At the top of the lineup, Rylie Cepicky took over at the net in the 1s pairing against Lindenwood, recording nine blocks in a commanding performance that helped anchor the weekend.

Another great weekend in the books for our Bears — full of grit, hustle, and heart from our entire roster, 1–15. This group really has that 'it' factor. Getting a shot at Lindenwood and earning some redemption after last weekend brought a whole new level of excitement. The plays, the toughness, the momentum… it all showed up. The drive this team has to get better every single day never stops impressing us. We are proud of this group and fired up for what's next," head coach Ashley Emery said.

Missouri State 5, Southwest Baptist 0
The Bears opened Friday with a sweep over Southwest Baptist. Rylie Cepicky and Allyson Larkin set the tone at Flight No. 1 with a 21-8, 21-7 win. MacKenzie Steele and Amanda Cleary followed at No. 2, 21-11, 21-7, while Raylee Stenzel and Maddie Schrandt secured Flight No. 3, 21-11, 21-11. Manuela Niemeyer and Taylor Germann earned the point at No. 4, 21-8, 21-13, and Logan Kaneshiro and Jaycee Fixsen capped the sweep at No. 5 with a dominant 21-4, 21-4 result.

Missouri State 4, Eastern Kentucky 1
The Bears earned a 4-1 win over Eastern Kentucky later Friday. Cepicky and Larkin battled through three sets at Flight No. 1, 21-17, 20-22, 15-9. Steele and Cleary delivered a 21-14, 21-7 victory at No. 2, and Stenzel and Schrandt added a 21-16, 21-16 win at No. 3. Kaneshiro and Fixsen secured the fourth point with a 21-9, 21-8 result at No. 5.

Missouri State's only point surrendered on the weekend came at Flight No. 4 against EKU. The Bears trimmed a four-point deficit before narrowly dropping the opening set 19-21, responded with a second-set win, and battled point for point in a decisive third set before EKU edged out an 18-16 finish in a tightly contested match.

Missouri State 5, Central Arkansas 0
Missouri State returned Saturday with a sweep over Central Arkansas. Cepicky and Larkin earned the Flight No. 1 point, 21-9, 21-14, while Steele and Cleary handled No. 2, 21-17, 21-10. Stenzel and Schrandt secured Flight No. 3 with a 21-17, 21-5 victory. Niemeyer and Germann added a 21-17, 21-15 win at No. 4, and Kaneshiro and Fixsen completed the 5-0 result at No. 5, 21-14, 21-19.

Missouri State 5, Lindenwood 0
The Bears closed the Beach Bear Bash with another sweep. Cepicky and Larkin went three sets at Flight No. 1, 21-17, 18-21, 15-8. Steele and Cleary secured No. 2, 21-11, 21-13, and Stenzel and Schrandt posted a 21-18, 21-15 win at No. 3. Niemeyer and Germann earned a 25-23, 21-12 victory at No. 4, while Kaneshiro and Fixsen sealed the weekend at No. 5 with a 21-17, 21-9 result.

Up Next
Missouri State returns to action March 13-14 when the Bears travel to Monroe, Louisiana, for the ULM Bayou Bash.