Courtesy Connor Johnson, SDA Communications
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State beach volleyball team won both its matches on the second day of the Sun Devil Challenge, defeating Colorado Mesa University, 5-0, and then upset No. 17 South Carolina, 4-1, on Saturday at the PERA Club.
Four pairs of Sun Devils swept the day and went 2-0, led by juniors Bianca Arellano and Whitney Follette playing at the No. 1 position. The duo defeated the Colorado Mesa pair of Taylor Woods and Erin Perez, 21-11, 21-13, early in the night and capped things off with a three-set victory against South Carolina’s Shannon Williams and Julia Mannisto, 21-17, 21-23, 15-11, which clinched ASU’s upset of the Gamecocks.
The No. 5 pair of Frances Giedraitis and Kylie Pickrell did not drop a set on Saturday, defeating the Colorado Mesa pairing of Natalie Todd and Rachel Morelez 21-10, 21-7 before sweeping the South Carolina duo of Delaney Wood and Erin Neuenfeldt 21-17, 21-18.
Playing at the No. 3 position, Madison Berridge and Bethany Wedepohl secured two three-set victories on Saturday. The pair defeated Kricket Adleman and Megan Gianineti of Colorado Mesa 21-18, 22-24, 15-11 and knocked off the South Carolina duo of Macie Tendrich and Katie Reilly 22-20, 22-24, 15-12.
At the No. 4 position, Mia Rivera and Jourdan Parnell also went 2-0 on Saturday. Rivera and Parnell began the evening with a comeback victory over Colorado-Mesa’s Ali Svorinic and Zie Edwards 20-22, 21-18, 15-12 and capped off the night with a three-set victory over South Carolina’s Jade Vitt and Katie McCormick, 14-21, 21-11, 15-9.
At the No. 2 position, Kwyn Johnson and Logan Rae teamed up for the first time this year, sweeping Colorado Mesa’s Hana Peterman and Naomi Pinecoose, 21-12, 24-22, before they fell in a very close match to the Gamecock’s No. 2s, Aubrey Ezell and Sarab Blomgren, 21-17, 18-21, 17-15.
Up next for the ASU is a Southern California double-header, as the Sun Devils travel to Los Angeles on Thursday, March 10 to take on Loyola Marymount at 4 p.m. PT/5 p.m. MT and USC at 6 p.m. PT/7 p.m. MT. On Friday, ASU will round out the week at Long Beach State at Noon PT/1 p.m. MT.
Arizona State 5, Colorado Mesa 0
1. Bianca Arellano & Whitney Follette (ASU) def. Taylor Woods & Erin Perez (CMU): 21-11, 21-13
2. Kwyn Johnson & Logan Rae (ASU) def. Hana Peterman & Naomi Pinnecoose (CMU): 21-12, 24-22
3. Madison Berridge & Bethany Wedepohl (ASU) def. Kricket Adleman & Megan Gianineti (CMU): 21-18, 22-24, 15-11
4. Mia Rivera & Jourdan Parnell (ASU) def. Ali Svorinic & Zie Edwards (CMU): 20-22, 21-18, 15-12
5. Frances Giedraitis & Kylie Pickrell (ASU) def. Natalie Todd & Rachel Morelez (CMU): 21-10, 21-7
Order of Finish: 5, 4, 2*, 3, 1
*Clinched dual win
Arizona State 4, No. 17 South Carolina 1
1. Bianca Arellano & Whitney Follette (ASU) def. Shannon Williams & Julia Mannisto (USC): 21-17, 21-23, 15-11
2. Aubrey Ezell & Sarah Blomgren (USC) def. Kwyn Johnson & Logan Rae (ASU): 21-17, 18-21, 17-15
3. Madison Berridge & Bethany Wedepohl (ASU) def. Macie Tendrich & Katie Reilly (USC): 22-20, 22-24, 15-12
4. Mia Rivera & Jourdan Parnell (ASU) def. Jade Vitt & Katie McCormick (USC): 14-21, 21-11, 15-9
5. Frances Giedraitis & Kylie Pickrell (ASU) def. Delaney Wood & Erin Neuenfeldt (USC): 21-17, 21-18
EX. Darian Dozier & Lista Darby (USC) def. Blair Robalin & Natalie Braun (ASU): 21-14, 24-22
Order of Finish: 5, 4, 2, 1*, 3
*Clinched dual win