Sand Devils Drop Opening Day at Pac-12 Championship

(Photo courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics)

Tempe, Ariz. – Day one of the final beach volleyball Pac-12 championship got off to a rough start for ASU, as they took on No. 3 seeded Stanford Wednesday afternoon. ASU finished the regular season with a 19-7 record after sweeping Ottawa University 5-0 on senior day. ASU previously beat Stanford earlier in the year 3-2, and looked to complete the season sweep.

Stanford (29-3, 7-1 Pac-12) had other plans and swept the Sand Devils (19-8, 5-2 Pac-12) 3-0 in their fist dual. The Devils were swept in two of three complete matches, and will play either Arizona or Oregon in the contenders bracket tomorrow.

“Stanford is a great team,” head coach Kristen Rohr said. “They came and played really well. They played hard and we played hard … being able to compete against the Pac-12, you’re playing the best of the best. It’s a huge advantage to be able to get that competition all year long and see them in different environments.”

The fours for ASU was the only pair to force three sets. The new pair of senior Kate Fitzgerald and redshirt sophomore Ava Kirunchyk dropped the first set 17-21, but battled back in the second set to win 21-19 and tie the match to force a third set. It was a back and forth set, but the Stanford pair of freshman Clara Stowell and senior Kate Reilly pulled through in the end, winning the third set and match 15-12.

“I’m really proud of us for our first game together,” Fitzgerald said. “I think we battled, and it could’ve gone either way. We’re ready to play tomorrow and show that we’re here to stay.”

The first set between the third pair senior Taryn Ames and graduate Lexi Sweeny played a great first set winning 23-21, but their game was abandoned after Stanford picked up their third straight match win.

“Lexi and Taryn came in and though they didn’t get to finish their match, I really liked what I was seeing out of them,” Rohr said. “The good news is we’re not out. We’re going to come back and be ready to go with whoever comes out of that part of the contenders bracket. I like the volleyball we’re playing right now and the message is just to keep rolling.”

Arizona State will head to the consolation bracket as they take on No. 7 seed Arizona tomorrow at 1:45 p.m. with its Pac-12 Championship hopes on the line.