(Queen’s Beach, HI) Winning the season opener for the third-straight year, No. 11 Sun Devil Beach Volleyball split the duals to start the year on Thursday, sweeping No. 12 Hawai’i before falling to No. 3 UCLA 4-1 as part of the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Classic.
This is the third year in a row that Arizona State (1-1) has won its season opener. The win over Hawai’i (0-2) is the 12th ranked win under head coach Kristen Glattfelder. It also is the first 5-0 win over a ranked team in program history. Additionally, ASU beat Hawai’i for the first time in nine tries.
One pair went undefeated today: junior Arden Besecker and sophomore Ava Haughy on court four. They took down the pair from Hawai’i in two sets and then battled back to beat UCLA’s pair in three sets.
A few Sand Devils made their ASU debuts today. Transfers Olivia McElroy and Tori Clement both contributed. Sophomore McElroy paired with senior Anya Pemberton on court two, while Clement teamed up with redshirt junior Ava Kirunchyk at the three. Additionally, freshman Zoë Taylor made her collegiate debut on court five, pairing with junior Kendall Whitmarsh.
Game One: No. 11 ASU 5, No. 12 Hawai’i 0
In the first dual of the season, Arizona State put the pressure on early against Hawai’i and did not let up, clinching four in a row for the team win, then getting the win on five in three sets. On court five, freshman Taylor and junior Whitmarsh dominated their first set, 21-5, to set the pace for a straight-set win. All four wins were in straight sets.
Final Results (Order of Finish: 1, 5, 4*, 2, 3)
- Daniella Kensinger/Ava Williamson (ASU) def. Burton/Lorenzo (UH) 21-15, 21-16
- Olivia McElroy/Anya Pemberton (ASU) def. Amiatu/Lawrenz (UH) 21-13, 21-19
- Tori Clement/Ava Kirunchyk (ASU) def. Embry/Miller (UH) 14-21, 21-17, 18-16
- Arden Besecker/Ava Haughy (ASU) def. Mann/Wandeler (UH) 21-18, 21-18
- Zoë Taylor/Kendall Whitmarsh (ASU) def. Ali/Moi (UH) 21-5, 21-17
Game Two: No. 3 UCLA 4, No. 11 ASU 1
Despite four of the five courts going to three sets, the Sun Devils were unable to get the win over the Bruins (2-0). The No. 4 pair of Besecker and Haughy won their match in three sets to go 2-0 on the day.
Final Results (Order of Finish:1, 2, 5*, 4, 3)
- Boyd/Perez (UCLA) def. Daniella Kensinger/Ava Williamson (ASU) 21-17, 21-15
- Brennan/Myskowski (UCLA) def. Olivia McElroy/Anya Pemberton (ASU) 21-9, 19-21, 15-13
- Alden/Brower (UCLA) def. Tori Clement/Ava Kirunchyk (ASU) 25-23, 19-21, 15-10
- Arden Besecker/Ava Haughy (ASU) def. Fernandez/Van Winkle (UCLA) 18-21, 21-18, 15-12
- Cooper/Moore (UCLA) def. Zoë Taylor/Kendall Whitmarsh (ASU) 21-17, 20-22, 15-12
Up Next
Arizona State continues the tournament tomorrow against the top two teams in the country, No. 1 USC and No. 2 TCU at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. MST, respectively. There will be live scoring for the duals.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Kimberlie Haner
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