Sand Devils send off seniors successfully in the Sparky Invitational

Photo Courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics

TEMPE – When celebrating the final moments for the seniors on the Sun Devil Beach Volleyball Facility sand, finality at home did not get in the way of winning for the Sand Devil Squad.

No. 12 Arizona State beach volleyball improved their record to 16-9 overall, ending the season with a 7-1 home record, as they swept 5-0 Florida International (8-12) and beat No. 15 Stetson (20-6)l 4-1 to conclude the Sparky Invitational.

The Sand Devils celebrated their seven seniors Arden Besecker, McKenna Flaherty, Reagan Hope, Daniella Kensinger, Ava Kirunchyk, Samaya Morin and Kendall Whitmarsh were all given flowers and their framed jerseys.

“I want the seniors to know how much they’ve paved the way for this program,” coach Kristen Glattfelder said. “They’re always going to be remembered (for) everything they’ve put in.”

Of those seniors celebrated, two will return to Tempe in 2027.

“Super excited to have McKenna and Arden back for an extra year,” Glattfelder said.

Seniors Arden Besecker and Kendall Whitmarsh won ASU’s first match against FIU’s freshmen duo of Lauren Coady and Elizabeth Nye, 21-18 in the first set and 21-15 in the second set to secure the match victory. Besecker and Whitmarsh’s victory gave the Sun Devils a 1-0 lead and marked the first time together this season the senior duo shared the sand.

Senior Daniella Kensinger and junior Olivia McElroy narrowly eked out set wins against junior Hannah Gubik and senior Nicole Robison on court one. Kensinger and McElroy won both matches in deuces with set one ending 24-22 and the match-clinching set by 22-20 to improve the pair’s record to 4-4.

On court three, another new ASU pairing took the sand. Graduate Reagan Hope and sophomore Layla Williams beat FIU’s junior Nikelle Lander and sophomore Hailey Prodan 21-18 in set one, then 21-14 in set two, to seal the game point for the Sun Devils.

The ASU pair of Morin and Kirunchyk then beat sophomore Brianna Luoma and junior Katarina “Kiki” Drozd. The duo improved their record to 17-6 to take the score to 4-0. With this match victory, Kirunchyk sealed her 50th career win..

“I redshirt my first year, being able to hit a milestone like that didn’t seem possible,” Kirunchyk said. “It was something that wasn’t even in my reach in the beginning of my career, so i’m really glad I got there.”

The Sand Devils’ only match to go into three sets was when junior Kristin Gilmour and Senior McKenna Flaherty defeated senior Kendra Brown and freshman Isabella Pereira.

The Panthers took set one 22-20, but the Sand Devils won the following two sets 21-13 and 15-9. This completed the sweep on the day against FIU and the pair improved their record to 15-6.

Against No. 15 Stetson, ASU had their hands full as all matches except for two went into three sets.

The Sand Devils were caught off guard early when Stetson’s pair of freshman Emma Joy and sophomore Julia Radelczuk swept Kensinger and McElroy 21-14 and 21-19 on to take an early 1-0 lead.

ASU bounced back on court two, as Gilmour and Flaherty beat freshman Anniina Muukka and senior Katie Camp in three sets. The Sand Devils won the first set 21-13, but Stetson fought back to take the second set 21-13.

ASU flipped a switch in the last set with a 15-2 rout to secure the match victory and tie the game 1-1.

Whitmarsh and Hope in court three swept Stetson freshman Cayla Sutton and redshirt senior Madeline Camp to give ASU the 2-1 lead. This pair got their first victory together to improve their record to 1-3 on the season and their final win in Tempe.

“The girls, everything is such a tight knit group,” Hope said. “I am so grateful to be here”

The game-clinching point came on court one when Morin and Kirunchyk beat sophomore Marta Carro and senior Maria Ozaeta. Stetson took the first set 21-17, before the Sand Devils bounced back 21-19. In the deciding set, the Sand Devils fought hard to win the last set 17-15 to clinch the match.

The last match of senior day was played on court two where the Sand Devil pair of sophomore Zoë Taylor and Besecker beat freshman Zoe Flueckiger and junior Julia Czurylo in three sets. Stetson won the first set 21-13 before ASU won the last two 21-14 and 15-6.

The next dual Sand Devils compete in, they will be in the Center of Effort Challenge where they will face two ranked teams in No. 9 Cal and No. 6 Cal Poly on April 10.