(Tucson, AZ) No. 12 Sun Devil Beach Volleyball started off the 2026 Big 12 Championship presented by Allstate by going 1-1 in pool play, beating No. 5 seed Arizona (4-1) and falling to No. 2 seed TCU (4-1) on Friday afternoon at Bear Down Beach.
Arizona State (18-14) got its fourth win of the season over Arizona (22-9), going 4-0 in rivalry matchups this season and improving the winning streak to eight in a row over the Cats. ASU fell to 1-2 against TCU (19-9) this season after the loss.
Arizona State will next face No. 5 seed Boise State on Friday at 10:15 a.m. MST in the single elimination bracket. The winner will play in the semifinals against No. 2 seed TCU at 1 p.m. MST.
Arizona State’s top duo of redshirt seniors Ava Kirunchyk and Samaya Morin reached the 20-win mark today after splitting their matches. They’re now 20-8, the best win total by a pair on the Sand Devils. Kirunchyk’s individual record is now 22-10, also the best win total.
Other individuals to reach 20 wins today were seniors McKenna Flaherty and Arden Besecker. Flaherty won with junior Kristin Gilmour on court four against Arizona, while Besecker teamed up with junior Olivia McElroy on court three to beat TCU’s threes.
Game one: ASU 4, Arizona 1 /// Final Box
Arizona had the early advantage in the dual, winning four of the five first sets. The Wildcats also earned the first point in the dual after sweeping on court three. However, the Sun Devils’ top duo of Kirunchyk and Morin swept their match as well to tie it up. The three remaining courts went to three sets, seeing ASU win all three of those second sets. It was all Sand Devils from there as the team won each of those third sets to win the dual. The victory was capped off with an incredible comeback effort from the No. 5 pair of Taylor and Williams to win 19-17 in the third set. All three of their sets went to extra points (20-22, 22-20, 19-17).
Game two: TCU 4, ASU 1 /// Final Box
Similar to the first dual, the Sun Devils lost four of the five first sets. However, they were not able to come back in a similar fashion. The No. 3 pair of Besecker and McElroy were the lone ASU duo to win their match, winning in straight sets (21-19, 21-18). Court four went to three sets, but Arizona State was unable to get the job done.
Up next
Arizona State will face No. 5 seed Boise State on Friday at 10:15 a.m. MST in the single elimination bracket. The winner will play in the semifinals against No. 2 seed TCU at 1 p.m.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Kimberlie Haner
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