MONROE, La. - Missouri State beach volleyball continued its strong start to the 2026 season, going 3-0 at the ULM Bayou Bash in Monroe, Louisiana. The Bears opened the weekend with a sweep over Stephen F. Austin, followed by a 4-1 win over Tarleton State on Friday before closing the tournament Saturday morning with a 5-0 victory over host ULM.

"This team is something special. The balance we have across the lineup and the genuine love these players have for each other, really shows in the way we compete," said head coach Ashleys Emery. "As a coach, it makes my job a whole lot easier."

With the three wins, Missouri State improved to 11-0 on the season, setting a new program record for the best start in program history, surpassing the previous mark set in 2024 when the Bears opened the year 10-0. The weekend also featured individual milestones, as Maddie Schrandt recorded her 55th career victory, while Allyson Larkin reached 53 career wins.

Missouri State 5, Stephen F. Austin 0
The Bears opened the tournament Friday morning with a convincing sweep of Stephen F. Austin, winning in straight sets at all five flights.

Manuela Niemeyer and Taylor Germann got Missouri State on the board at Flight No. 4 with a 21-8, 21-13 victory, while MacKenzie Steele and Amanda Cleary followed with a 21-13, 21-18 win at No. 2.

Rylie Cepicky and Allyson Larkin secured the point at Flight No. 1, 21-8, 21-15, before Raylee Stenzel and Maddie Schrandt added a 21-6, 21-13 win at No. 3. Logan Kaneshiro and Jaycee Fixsen completed the sweep at Flight No. 5 with a 21-16, 21-10 victory.

Missouri State 4, Tarleton State 1
Missouri State returned to the sand later Friday with a 4-1 victory over Tarleton State, highlighted by one of the weekend's most intense matches at Flight No. 2.

Niemeyer and Germann opened the scoring at Flight No. 4 with a 21-18, 21-10 victory. Cepicky and Larkin followed with a tight straight-set win at No. 1, 21-14, 22-20.

Stenzel and Schrandt secured another point at Flight No. 3, 21-10, 21-13, while Kaneshiro and Fixsen closed out the dual with a 21-15, 21-6 win at No. 5.
Tarleton's lone point came at Flight No. 2 in a back-and-forth three-set battle. Steele and Cleary pushed the match to the limit before falling 21-16, 25-27, 15-13 in one of the most action-packed contests of the day.

Missouri State 5, ULM 0
The Bears closed the tournament Saturday morning with another sweep, defeating host ULM 5-0.

Niemeyer and Germann secured the first point at Flight No. 4 with a 21-19, 21-17 win, while Steele and Cleary followed at No. 2 with a 21-12, 21-16 victory.
The highlight of the dual came at Flight No. 1, where Cepicky and Larkin battled through an electrifying three-set match. After taking the first set 24-22 and dropping the second 22-24, the pair edged out a dramatic 19-17 win in the decisive third set.

Stenzel and Schrandt added a 21-13, 21-12 victory at Flight No. 3 before Kaneshiro and Fixsen completed the sweep at No. 5 with a 21-16, 21-17 result.

"What's been really exciting to see is the depth of this group. We're no just winning courts 1-5 for the team win, and our 6s are battling and picking up wins too." Said Emery. "That says a lot about the culture and the standard we're building here. This group continues to prove that we're going to be ready to compete every time we step in the sand."

Up Next
Missouri State returns to action March 20-21 when the Bears travel to Tucson, Arizona, to compete in the Arizona Invitational.