(Photo courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics)
Despite being eliminated on the final day of the Pac-12 Championships, the Arizona State beach volleyball team knew that its season was not over.
With a 21-9 record, 11 ranked wins heading into the final day of Pac-12 Championship play, and a No. 12 ranking nationally, the Devils had put themselves in prime position to reach its first ever NCAA Tournament.
In its first season with new head coach Kristen Rohr, ASU had put together an impressive campaign that began with a No. 18 preseason ranking and ended with an appearance on the last day of the Pac-12 Championships, surrounded by the nation’s top three teams.
That season summation helped the Sun Devils ink the tournament’s No. 12 seed, drawing No. 5 Cal Poly in the opening round on Friday, May 3. When Arizona State’s name was called during Sunday morning’s selection show, the immediate reaction from the players and coaching staff was excitement.
“I was just so excited for our team,” Rohr said. “So excited for our seniors. They’ve put a lot of work in to get to this point. And every single person on our team has worked really, really hard this year and have been, regardless of what position they’re in, the best teammates and best supporters.”
Kate Fitzgerald, one of four seniors on the team, had just just celebrated her senior night with a win before making her way into the starting lineup for the Pac-12 Championships. Making an immediate impact, Fitzgerald and freshman Ava Kirunchyk sealed the deal on ASU’s 21st win, tying a single-season program record.
“I just started jumping up and down and screaming, it was just like, ‘oh my god, yay,’ because we were just like, it’s so surreal,” Fitzgerald said.
As the initial thrill faded, the team set its sights quickly on the NCAA Tournament. The Sun Devils just had one last practice on its home sand on Monday before flying to Gulf Shores the following day. Across three days, the Devils have gotten acquainted with the different facilities on a new level.
“I’m excited for them to get to experience a really cool environment,” Rohr said. “I’m just excited for them to experience playing at such a high level with all the best teams in the country.”
The Sun Devils have now proven to be one of those “best teams in the country.” With a program record breaking season, two All-Americans in Ava Williamson and Daniella Kensinger as well as the Pac-12’s Coach of the Year in Kristen Rohr, the Sun Devils have made a dramatic turnaround from a team that finished towards the bottom of the Pac-12 in 2023.
“Before this year, they weren’t even in the talks of it being possible to get here,” Rohr said. “So I just feel like they deserve this opportunity to compete with the best and beat the best as well.”
The Devils journey in the NCAA Championships will begin with a first round matchup against No. 5 seed Cal Poly (No. 6 nationally), a team that began the season ranked No. 20 and has steadily worked their way up in the polls with a 29-6 record out of the Big West.
“I wasn’t expecting that 12 seed. I think we got a great seeding,” Fitzgerald said. “I think we have a great shot against Cal Poly.”
Rohr echoed that sentiment, saying that the thing she is most looking forward to at the tournament is “beating Cal Poly to start.”
“While we’re really excited to be here, we want to make some noise while we’re here as well.”
First serve in Gulf Shores for the Devils is set for 8 a.m. MST on Friday morning. All matches can be watched on ESPNU as well as individual courses on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
