TUCSON, Ariz.—The Arizona State sand volleyball team (1-2) wrapped competition at the Arizona Invitational on Saturday with a 5-0 sweep of TCU at the Arizona Sand Volleyball Courts at Jimenez Field.
"We got better as the tournament progressed,” head coach Jason Watson said. “I really liked how our athletes responded after the first two matches. Kizzy (Willey) and Sydney (Palmer) had an outstanding tournament. We have some good direction moving forward and feel good about what we need to do."
Leading the way for the Sun Devils were sophomore Kizzy Willey and freshman Sydney Palmer, who went 3-0 on the weekend at No. 4. Against the Horned Frogs, the duo defeated Blaire Pickens and Sarah Grantham, 19-21, 21-7, 15-5.
At No. 5 freshman Frances Giedraitis and junior Andi Lowrance defeated Chayanne Perkins and Chyna Perkins, 21-9, 21-15, while junior Whitney Follette and freshman Halle Harker defeated Alexa Heist and Sutton Sunstrum in two sets, 21-11, 21-18.
The junior duo of Bianca Arellano and Macey Gardner defeated Macy Capen and Ashley Smith, 21-5, 21-6, at No. 2, their second win of the weekend, while the senior pairing of Bethany Jorgensen and Jordy Checkal defeated Shane Peters and Natalie Gower, 21-8, 21-12, at No. 1.
Up next, the Sun Devils will make the trek to Columbia, S.C., for the South Carolina Invitational, March 20-22. To open the tournament on Friday, ASU will face off against Florida State before taking on the host Gamecocks in a match televised on the SEC Networks at 7 p.m. ET. On Saturday, ASU will take on Georgia State and Carson-Newman, and then on Sunday the Sun Devils will have a rematch with Tulane.
Arizona State 5, TCU 0
5. Frances Giedraitis/Andi Lowrance (ASU) def. Chyanne Perkins/Chyna Perkins (TCU): 21-9, 21-14
4. Kizzy Willey/Sydney Palmer (ASU) def. Blaire Pickens/Sarah Grantham (TCU): 19-21, 21-7, 15-5
3. Whitney Follette/Halle Harker (ASU) def. Alexa Heist/Sutton Sunstrum (TCU): 21-11, 21-18
2. Bianca Arellano/Macey Gardner (ASU) def. Macy Capen/Ashley Smith (TCU): 21-5, 21-6
1. Bethany Jorgensen/Jordy Checkal (ASU) def. Shane Peters/Natalie Gower (TCU): 21-8, 21-12