Sand Devils go 3-1 in Wildcat Spring Challenge, lose to No.1 TCU

(Photo Courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics)

Entering the Wildcat Spring Challenge in Tucson, the Arizona State beach volleyball team was looking to further their momentum and extend an impressive five-game win streak while getting an early preview of what Big 12 competition could look like. The Sand Devils did just that. extending their streak and pushing No.1 TCU to their limits in a thrilling weekend for the program.

While the program itself was on a win streak, juniors Kendall Whitmarsh and Tori Clement boasted an impressive streak of their own, winning each of their last nine matches.

The weekend kicked off with the only non-Big 12 opponent, No.12 ASU (16-9) was slated to face in the tournament in Pepperdine (11-12).

The duel started with senior Anya Pemberton and sophomore Kaydon Meyers making their impressive debut as a pairing, sweeping the sets 21-7 and 21-19, respectively.

The next match saw Whitmarsh and Clement extend their set win streak to a program record of 10 straight matches after winning in two sets to put the Sun Devils on the verge of a duel victory.

ASU wrapped up the duel with its number two pairing of redshirt junior Ava Kirunchyk and sophomore Ava Williamson pulling out two narrow set wins to clinch the Devils‘ first victory of the day.

The Devils struggled closing out the duel as the No.1 pairing of redshirt junior Samaya Morin and junior Daniella Kensinger dropped their match in three sets, losing the third 15-13.

After opening the weekend with a duel victory, the Sand Devils turned their attention towards their rivals down south in Arizona (15-8). In their previous matchup with the Wildcats, Sparky swept the Wildcats in a 5-0 victory.

Clement and Whitmarsh got ASU started in the duel, winning their match in two tight sets, extending their already program-record-breaking win streak to 11 straight matches.

Kirunchyk and Williamson grabbed the Devils’ second point of the affair, winning both sets 22-20 and 21-17.

The No.1 pairing of Morin and Kensinger recovered from a loss earlier in the day to clinch Arizona State’s second victory of the day in two sets, including a thrilling 26-24 first-set victory.

Sophomore Olivia McElroy got revenge on her former school after rejoining Pemberton on court four to sweep the sets against the Wildcats.

Not only was this an important win over a Big 12 opponent and rival, but this win marked a program record-breaking seventh straight win for the Devils.

ASU needed all the momentum it could get going into Saturday morning’s duel against No.1 TCU (19-3).

The Devils started the game dominantly as their No.2 pairing of Kirunchyk and Williamson shocked the Horned Frogs, sweeping the sets 21-8 and 21-13.

TCU responded on court four, winning in two sets against sophomore Ava Haughy and freshman Layla Williams.

Court one featured a contested battle, which saw the Sand Devils’ No.1 pairing of Samaya and Kensinger battle back from a first-set loss to push the match to three sets. Unfortunately for ASU, the duo dropped the third set 15-9, which saw TCU take a 2-1 lead in the duel and inch closer to holding off the upset.

Things looked promising at first for the Devils’ third pairing of Whitmarsh and Clement following a 21-18 victory in the first set of the match. However, things took a turn for the worse as the pair lost the following two sets 21-18 and 15-11. This loss meant the end both ASU’s historic win streak and Whitmarsh and Clements’ win streak.

While some streaks ended Saturday morning, others were just gaining traction, such as the Devils’ second pairing of Kirunchyk and Williamson, who extended their hot streak to eight-straight victories in the early morning duel.

After the morning loss, the Sand Devils were looking to bounce back against yet another Big-12 opponent in Utah (18-9).

Kirunchyk and Williamson started the duel strong, taking the match’s first point in a two-set sweep, extending their streak to nine straight wins.

No.1 pairing of Samaya and Kensinger pushed ASU to the verge of victory with a dominant sweep, winning 21-14 and 21-16.

Closing out the duel for the Devils were Haughy and Williams, who despite losing the first set 21-19, fought back to clinch victory in the third set, winning 15-12.

Despite the narrow loss against TCU Saturday morning, the Arizona State beach volleyball team picked up some much-needed victories and put themselves in place to succeed in the Big 12.

The Devils will now turn their attention towards next weekend and the COE Challenge in San Luis Obispo, California, a tournament that will see the squad tested yet again, a rematch with No.1 TCU and former Pac-12 foe No.2 UCLA await.