(Tempe, AZ) Sun Devil Beach Volleyball continued their stretch of success under second-year head coach Kristen Glattfelder, racking up the most wins in a season in program history with 22 and picking up numerous individual awards along the way.
Team Accomplishments
A year removed from tying the record for most wins in a single season, the 2025 Sand Devils broke the record, winning 22 games, including a 9-1 mark on home sand. Arizona State ended the year ranked No. 12 in the AVCA Coaches Poll after spending the entire season ranked in the top 15, getting as high as No. 10. At the first Big 12 Beach Volleyball Championships, ASU finished in second place, coming up just short in a 3-2 battle against the 2025 NCAA National Champions TCU.
The Sun Devils were undefeated against unranked opponents this season, a trend they continued from last season. Additionally, the squad picked up seven ranked wins, the second most in a season in program history. At the COE Challenge in April, the Sand Devils took down No. 7 Florida State for their first Top-10 win of the season, third under Glattfelder, and fourth in program history.
ASU had two undefeated weekends, including a 4-0 showing at the Cactus Classic, which included two ranked victories, and a 4-0 weekend at the ASU/GCU Invitational, where they tacked on another ranked win.
Awards and Honors
After coming in second in the Big 12 and compiling the most wins the team has ever had in a single season, the Sand Devils were rewarded with multiple conference and national honors. Redshirt junior Samaya Morinwas named an AVCA Second Team All-American, making her the third All-American in program history.
Three Sun Devils were named to the Big 12 All-Conference Team. Junior Daniella Kensinger, redshirt sophomore Ava Kirunchyk, and Morin all put together outstanding seasons to earn the nod. Additionally, ASU had four players named to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team. Kirunchyk and Morin went 3-1 at the Big 12 Championships, picking up a win over the No. 1 seed TCU, while junior Arden Besecker and sophomore Ava Haughy went 2-0, also taking a win over TCU.
The Sun Devils had three pairs named Big 12 Pair of the Week, the most the team has ever had in a single season. Kensinger and sophomore Ava Williamson got the nod in early March, juniors Tori Clement and Kendall Whitmarsh were honored in late March, and Kirunchyk and Williamson were selected in early April.
Individual Successes
All-American Samaya Morin had a stellar season, going 17-9 while appearing mainly on courts one and two. Morin went 3-1 at Big 12 Championships, picking up a win over the No. 1 pair from No. 1 seed TCU. Despite missing the first few weeks of the season, she had five ranked wins. Junior Daniella Kensinger also put together a strong season, going 21-14 primarily on the top court while collecting seven ranked wins.
The leaders in individual wins this season were Ava Williamson with 23 and Ava Kirunchyk with 22. Kirunchyk had the highest winning percentage at .687. The two were paired together for part of the year and collected 10-straight victories at the No. 2 spot. The two finished their partnership with a 10-1 record, and also picked up a Big 12 Pair of the Week nod during their winning streak.
Juniors Tori Clement and Kendall Whitmarsh put on a show at the bottom three courts this season, going 14-8 as a pair. March 21 to April 4, the duo was unstoppable, winning a program record 11 games in a row. During that streak, they had five ranked wins, including an upset over then No. 10 Texas. Additionally, they had a stretch of four ranked wins in a row, earning them Big 12 Pair of the Week honors.
The Sun Devils saw a mixture of players competing at the rest of the courts, with a few standing out. Junior Olivia McElroy saw time at all five courts, compiling a 19-16 record in her first season at Arizona State. The transfer played in every dual this season and picked up eight ranked wins. McElroy was paired with three different Sun Devils but spent most of the time with senior Anya Pemberton, who went 16-15.
Sophomore Ava Haughy appeared on the three bottom courts, spending most of her time on court four. She put together an 18-15 record, competing with four different partners. She spent most of the time with junior Arden Besecker, and the two were 8-6 as a duo. Besecker had a 14-11 record individually.
Freshmen Zoe Taylor and Layla Williams and sophomores Annalyse Askew and Elsa Snipes all made their collegiate debuts this season, with Taylor and Williams playing in 13 and eight duals respectively. Additionally, multiple transfers made their Sun Devils debuts this season, including Clement, McElroy, and sophomore Kaydon Meyers.
Next Season
After finishing second in the Big 12 in its inaugural season, the Sun Devils will continue to compete in the conference and look to build on the successes of this year. Of the 10 starters at Big 12 Championships, ASU will lose just two. With the incoming freshmen and transfers, Arizona State will reload for 2026.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Brooklyn Cohen, media relations intern
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