Sun Devils off to program-best 10-0 start after Sun Devil Classic

Photo courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics

TEMPE — As the sun sets on the desert sand, the lack of light did not affect the the No. 8 Arizona State beach volleyball team’s undefeated record. The Sand Devils proved why they are the hottest team not only in the state of Arizona, but in the Big 12 Conference.

So far this season, they have the best record in the conference and are the only unbeaten team to remain unbeaten.

The Sand Devils are now 10-0 after picking up wins against Southern Miss and Stephen F. Austin, at home in the Sun Devil Classic in their best start in program history.

Coach Kristen Glattfelder earned her 200th career win as a head coach, after the first win of the day against Southern Miss (3-9).

The theme of the day was defense, as ASU did not let a single set go into three sets which marked the third time this season they achieved this task. The Sand Devils had the size and length advantage against both opponents by playing great defense.

“With a lot of teams that I’ve had in the past we have been undersized with really good ball control,” Glattfelder said. “This is probably one of the most physical teams that I have ever had.”

Senior Daniella Kensinger improved her career win total in maroon and gold to 50, tying former Sand Devil Kate Baldwin for tenth all-time in program history.

Graduate Reagan Hope and senior Daniella Kensinger started out the day against senior Suzanna Michalska and freshman Abigail Lewis and turned up the heat against them following a slow start.

After narrowly winning the first set 21-19, the Sand Devils made adjustments to win 21-12 in the second set to win the match and give ASU the 1-0 lead on the day on court one.

“We got to play to our strengths,” Kensinger said, “Reagan is a huge blocker, so I got to have her around the net.”

Senior McKenna Flaherty and junior Olivia McElroy beat redshirt sophomore Lillie Johnson and redshirt junior Ryann Thomas 2-0, winning the first set 21-13, and the second 21-12.

The senior Sand Devil duo of Samaya Morin and Ava Kirunchyk were ranked No. 1 on the day, after they swept juniors Sadie McAda and Laurel Dennis.

Sophomore Zoë Taylor and senior Arden Besecker against the duo of freshman Brooklyn Bowdler and sophomore Kitija Martini Adamsone. The sweep of Southern Miss came tight with the first set being 21-18 and the second set 21-19 to take the ASU lead up to 3-0.

Taylor showed dominance throughout the day making play after play along with her teammate Besecker. The duo has a perfect 8-0 record this year.

“Me and Arden have been playing for a while now,” Taylor said, “Our coaches realize that we work well together and that we are a great duo together.”

On court three it saw the ASU duo of junior Kristen Gilmour and senior McKenna Flaherty sweep the duo of redshirt sophomore Lillie Johnson and redshirt junior Ryann Thomas 21-13 and in the second set 21-12 to give the Sand Devils a 4-0 lead.

The last pair of the matchup to clinch the sweep of Southern Miss was McElroy and senior Kendall Whitmarsh, as they beat the duo of freshman Margarita Grigoreva and graduate Lustina Corcoz.

The second matchup of the day saw ASU face off against unranked Southern F. Austin (4-2). This was the first matchup against SFA since 2021 where the Sand Devils swept 5-0 at Grand Canyon University in the Canyon Classic.

History would repeat itself at home as ASU would get the sweep again.

The duo of sophomore Zoë Taylor and senior Arden Besecker got the game- clinching point as they beat senior Luna França and sophomore Gabrielle Damborowiski.

“I think that our team does a very good job of staying humble and not underestimating any team that we’re playing,” Taylor said “I think that really pays off for us in the long run and now we’re 10-0.”

It was the season debut for junior Kaydon Meyers as she was paired with senior McKenna Flaherty. This duo was unstoppable with a 21-9 win in set one and a 21–11 win in set two against sophomore Ava Boot-Bandford and junior Savannah Johnson.

ASU sophomore Layla Williams also made her 2026 debut by pairing with junior Olivia McElroy sweeping SFA freshman duo Gianna Reamer and Mikaela Diosa-Lopez. The pairs swept SFA 21-9 and 21-11 in the second set.

Once again, it was the senior duo of Samaya Morin and Ava Kirunchyk on court one sweeping their matchup. This time, it was against SFA senior Meagan Ledbetter and sophomore Reese Rich, winning 21-11 in both sets.

The Sand Devil pair of graduate Daniella Kensinger and senior Reagan Hope got their sweeps as well, going 21-16 and 21-18 against SFA’s sophomore Lara Gilardi Parra de Souza and junior Annabella Howerton.

ASU is not free for spring break, as they compete in the East Meets West Invitational on Friday, Mar.ch 13, where it will play in Manhattan Beach, Calif. against UCLA and California.