TUCSON, Ariz.—The Arizona State sand volleyball team dropped its opening day matches at the Arizona Invitational, falling to Tulane, 3-2, before dropping a 4-1 decision to LSU on Friday at the Arizona Sand Volleyball Courts at Jimenez Field.
Playing at the No. 4 position, sophomore Kizzy Willey and freshman Sydney Palmer swept the day, winning in three sets over the duo from the Green Wave, Annie Shurtz and Courtney Liddle, 21-11, 15-21, 15-8 and then sweeping the Tigers’ pairing, of Whalen and Ehrle, 21-12, 21-18.
ASU also picked up a win in the Tulane match at the No. 2 position, as juniors Macey Gardner and Bianca Arellano came back to get the win over Tea Juric and Jackie Wenger, 13-21, 21-16, 15-5.
Up next, the Sun Devils are back in action on Saturday to round out the tournament, taking on TCU at 9 a.m. MT.
Results:
Tulane 3, ASU 2
No. 5: Sarah Strasner/Miah Diirell (Tulane) def. Frances Giedraitis/Andi Lowrance (ASU): 21-17, 21-13
No. 4: def. Annie Shurtz/Courtney Liddle (Tulane): 21-11, 15-21, 15-8
No. 3: Hannah Holmes/Grace Weaver (Tulane) def. Whitney Follette/Halle Harker (ASU): 23-25, 21-18, 15-9
No. 2: Bianca Arellano/Macey Gardner (ASU) def. Tea Juric/Jackie Wenger (Tulane): 13-21, 21-16, 15-5
No. 1: Lan Nguyen/Maddy Mertz (Tulane) def. Bethany Jorgensen/Jordy Checkal (ASU): 22-20, 21-17
LSU 4, ASU 1
No. 5: Young/Wood (LSU) def. Frances Giedraitis/Andi Lowrance (ASU): 21-16, 21-11
No. 4: Kizzy Willey/Sydney Palmer (ASU) def. Whalen/Ehrle (LSU): 21-12, 21-18
No. 3: Leak/Molle (LSU) def. Whitney Follette/Halle Harker (ASU): 21-19, 18-21, 24-22
No. 2: Boyle/Kessler (LSU) def. Bianca Arellano/Macey Gardner (ASU): 21-19, 27-29, 15-13
No. 1: Lindelow/Orellana (LSU) def. Bethany Jorgensen/Jordy Checkal (ASU): 23-21, 21-14