TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State beach volleyball team dropped its opening day matches at the Sun Devil Challenge, falling to New Mexico, 3-2, before dropping a 5-0 decision to No. 6 Florida State on Friday at the PERA Club.
Playing at the No. 1 position, juniors Bianca Arellano and Whitney Follette swept the New Mexico pairing of Lise Rugland and Cassie House 21-14 and 21-18. The duo fell to Florida State’s Jace Pardon and Julie Brown 21-17 in set one, before forcing a third and final set with a 21-19 victory in set two.
Sophomores Kwyn Johnson and Sydney Palmer, playing in the No. 2 position, defeated the New Mexico duo of Devanne Sours and Ashley Kelsey in an exciting three-set match 21-17, 16-21, 15-13. Johnson and Palmer dropped their first set to the Florida State pair of Kristina Pelletteri and Tory Paranagua 21-15 and nearly forced a third set after fighting back from match point four different times in the second set, eventually falling 25-23.
The Devils are back in action on Saturday night, as ASU takes on Colorado Mesa at 5:30 p.m. MT and No. 17 South Carolina at 7:15 p.m. MT.
New Mexico 3, Arizona State 2
1. Bianca Arellano & Whitney Follette (ASU) def. Lise Rugland/Cassie House (NM): 21-14, 21-18
2. Sydney Palmer & Kwyn Johnson (ASU) def. Devanne Sours/Ashley Kelsey (NM): 21-17, 16-21, 15-13
3. Hannah Johnson/Julia Warren (NM) def. Madison Berridge & Bethany Wedepohl (ASU): 21-16, 17-21, 15-10
4. Eastyn Baleto/Marisa Doran (NM) def. Jourdan Parnell & Mia Rivera (ASU): 18-21, 21-17, 15-11
5. Carson Heilborn/Maddie Mayfield (NM) def. Frances Giedraitis & Natalie Braun (ASU): 21-16, 21-18
EX. Allie Askew & Choe Crappell (NM) def. Kylie Pickrell & Blair Robalin (ASU): 21-15, 24-22
Order Of Finish: 5, 4, 1, 3*, 2
*Clinched dual win
No. 6 Florida State 5, Arizona State 0
1. Jace Pardon/Julie Brown (FSU) def. Bianca Arellano/Whitney Follette (ASU): 21-17, 19-21, 15-10
2. Kristina Pelletteri/Tory Paranagua (FSU) def. Kwyn Johnson/Sydney Palmer (ASU): 21-15, 25-23
3. Sierra Sanchez/Vanessa Fiere (FSU) def. Madison Berridge/Bethany Wedepohl (ASU): 21-19, 21-13
4. Kayla Joyce/Annie Montgomery (FSU) def. Jourdan Parnell/Mia Rivera (ASU): 21-16, 21-11
5. Hailey Luke/Katherine Plessy (FSU) def. Natalie Braun/Kylie Pickrell (ASU): 21-9, 21-12
EX. Nikki Esposito/Brooke Kuhlman (FSU) def. Blair Robalin/Frances Giedraitis (ASU): 21-15, 21-9
Order Of Finish: 5, 4, 3*, 2, 1
*Clinched dual win