(Tempe, AZ) With a big-time clinch from hometown heroes Taryn Ames and Lexi Sweeney, No. 10 Sun Devil Beach Volleyball took down No. 2 Stanford 3-2 for the biggest win in program history, splitting the first day of the Pac-12 South Tournament at home after falling to No. 1 UCLA earlier in the day.
Arizona State (7-1) beat Stanford (8-2) after falling to UCLA (9-4) in ASU’s first dual of the day. In an interesting turn of events, Stanford had beaten UCLA earlier in the day, making all three teams 1-1 at the tournament.
The win over No. 2 Stanford is the highest-ranked win in program history. Additionally, it is the fourth ranked win of the year for the Sand Devils, which is a new program record for number of ranked wins in a season. Against the Cardinal, this is the Sun Devils’ first win since 2019.
Senior Taryn Ames and graduate Lexi Sweeney were the clinching point in the dual for the Sun Devils against Stanford. They won in dramatic fashion, going to a third set after dropping the second. The ones for ASU had just won prior to the third set, bringing all eyes on the threes for that third set.
Game One: #1 UCLA 5, #10 ASU 0
In a matchup against the top-ranked team, the Sun Devils had their first loss. There were some close sets, with two pairs losing their first sets by just two points. However, ASU came up short.
Final Results (Order of Finish: 2, 4, 5*, 1, 3)
- Boyd/Denaburg (UCLA) def. Daniella Kensinger/Anya Pemberton (ASU) 21-14, 21-18
- Brennan/Newberry (UCLA) def. Arden Besecker/Ava Williamson (ASU) 21-18, 21-15
- Van Winkle/Whitmarsh (UCLA) def. Taryn Ames/Lexi Sweeney (ASU) 21-19, 21-14
- Brower/Smith (UCLA) def. Ava Haughy/Ava Kirunchyk (ASU) 24-22, 21-11
- Alden/Myszkowki (UCLA) def. Adriana Nieves Papaleo/Kendall Whitmarsh (ASU) 21-12, 21-16
Game Two: #10 ASU 3, #2 Stanford 2
After the first wave, the dual was tied at 1-1 after sophomore Arden Besecker and freshman Ava Williamson came back in the No. 2 spot to win in three sets. Stanford took the 2-1 lead after a win at the fives, but sophomore Daniella Kensinger and junior Anya Pemberton swept their match on the top court to tie it all up at 2-2. With the dual on the line, the threes of senior Taryn Ames and graduate Lexi Sweeney were in a third set. It was back and forth the entire set until the end when ASU pulled away, clinching the dual.
Final Results (Order of Finish: 2, 4, 5, 1, 3*)
- Daniella Kensinger/Anya Pemberton (ASU) def. Hodel/Rockwell (STAN) 21-18, 21-11
- Arden Besecker/Ava Williamson (ASU) def. Sorra/Wilson (STAN) 15-21, 21-17, 15-13
- Taryn Ames/Lexi Sweeney (ASU) def. Belardi/Vincent (STAN) 21-19, 15-21, 15-12
- Hoffman/Reilly (STAN) def. Ava Haughy/Ava Kirunchyk (ASU) 25-23, 21-18
- Gusarova/Morris (STAN) def. Rylie Kael/Carys Thomas (ASU) 21-18, 21-18
Up Next
The Sun Devils continue the Pac-12 South Tournament on Sunday, March 10. ASU will face No. 7 Cal at 10 a.m. MST and No. 19 Arizona at 4 p.m. MST for a Territorial Cup Series matchup to close out the weekend.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Kimberlie Haner
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