SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Central Arkansas beach volleyball team had success on a day trip to Missouri State for two matches at the Bear Challenge. UCA swept Ottawa 5-0, before it defeated Missouri State, 3-2. The Bears improved to 11-8 on the season.
 
Match One – UCA 5, Ottawa 0
 
Shannon Stone and Bria Garmon got the first point of the match as they bested Kristinia Thomas and Mia Burge in the No. 5 match, 21-6 and 21-5. In the No. 4 spot, Kayla Cook and Julia Oravec had little resistance as they defeated Jessica Gibson and Dennisa Dafay 21-8 and 21-7. The tandem of Kelsie Sager and Makenna Schmitt clinched the match for UCA with their 21-11 and 21-11 victory over Kourtney Collins and Stefanie Mitchell in the No. 3 position.
 
At the No. 2 position, Faith Hasness and Evelyn Griffith knocked off Taylor Mobley and Adrianna Skipper 21-9 and 21-16. The No. 1 duo of Aly Brinkley and Colene Hamilton beat Tina Sesa and Hanna Murry 21-10 and 21-7.
 
Match Two – UCA 3, Missouri State 2
 
Garmon and Stone recorded the first point of the match for UCA as they defeated Brooke Plessner and Gala Galabova 21-14 and 21-16 in the No. 5 matchup. The Beach Bears went up 2-0, as Sager and Schmitt bested Parker McAllen and Kylee Davis 21-18 and 21-13 in the No. 3 position.
 
The pair of Tory Penick and Pamela Jaime got Missouri State on the board as they knocked off Oravec and Cook in the No. 4 spot, 21-16 and 22-20. Missouri State tied the match at 2-2, when Chloe Filipski and Tylar Garrett defeated Brinkley and Hamilton, 21-19, 22-24, and 15-11, in the No. position.
 
It all came down to the No. 2 contest. Hasness and Griffith won the first set 21-15 against Chloe Tome and Grace Cook. The Missouri State duo responded with a 22-20 second-set win to force a third and final set. Hasness and Griffith were resilient in the third as they went on to win 15-13 and clinch the victory for UCA.
 
The Beach Bears will be at home for the first time in 2021 as they host the Beach Bear Invitational April 2-3. UCA welcomes Little Rock, North Alabama and Hendrix.

From the Coach - Head Coach Autumn Erickson
"I'm very proud of our grit and mental toughness today. We keep learning and growing week to week, so it is rewarding to see our hard work in practice translate into matches. I'm excited to carry momentum into our home tournament this upcoming week. Go Beach Bears!"
 
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