TUCSON, Ariz. - Saturday marked a historic day in the abbreviated history of the Arizona State beach volleyball program as the Sun Devils (2-1, 1-0 Pac-12) recorded a 3-2 upset of No. 6 Arizona (1-2, 0-1 Pac-12). The victory marks Arizona State's first win over a top-10 program in the team's four-year history and comes just three matches into first-year head coach Brad Keenan's tenure. The win also represents Arizona State's first victory over rival Arizona since 2014.
By virtue of the win the Sun Devils also earned 1/2 of a point for Arizona State in the Territorial Cup standings.
An exciting afternoon of competition that featured a 1-1 split through the match's first flight, culminated in a meeting of Arizona State and Arizona's No. 1 pairs with the deciding point at stake. After dropping the first set 21-19. the Sun Devils' senior duo of Bianca Arellano and Whitney Follette battled back to earn consecutive set victories of 21-13 and 15-10 respectively, to clinch the match-winning point over Arizona's McKenna and Madison Witt.
The Maroon and Gold were also propelled to victory by strong efforts from the team's No. 2 and 5 pairs.
Competing as the No. 5 duo in the competition, Sydney Palmer and Bethany Wedepohl provided the Sun Devils momentum heading into the second flight, cruising to a two-set sweep (24-22, 21-8) of Arizona's Natalie Anselmo and Tyler Spriggs.
Riding on the momentum of their teammate's sweep, the Sun Devils No. 2 pair featuring Madison Berridge and Oluoma Okaro followed suit earning a two- set sweep of their own (21-14, 21-14).
Arellano and Follette would then cap the competition in exciting fashion, with their three-set victory over the Witt sisters.
Up next, the Sun Devils return to Tempe for their home opener in the annual Sun Devil Challenge, March 11-12 at the PERA Club. ASU will match-up again with Arizona for the second half of the Territorial Cup point at 7:00 p.m. MT on Saturday, March 11. They will also face New Mexico and Texas A&M Kingsville on Sunday, March 12 at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. MT, respectively.
Match Results:
1. Bianca Arellano/Whitney Follette (ASU) def. McKenna Witt/Madison Witt (ARIZ) 19-21, 21-13, 15-10
2. Madison Berridge/Oluoma Okaro (ASU) def. Brooke Burling/Kendra Dahlke (ARIZ) 21-14, 21-14
3. Olivia Macdonald/Olivia Hallaran (ARIZ) def. Cassidy Pickrell/Katelyn Carballo (ASU) 21-19, 23-21
4. Hailey Devlin/Sam Manley (ARIZ) def. Katie Cross/Frances Giedraitis (ASU) 21-7, 21-15
5. Sydney Palmer/Bethany Wedepohl (ASU) def. Natalie Anselmo/Tyler Spriggs (ARIZ) 24-22, 21-8
Ext. Mia Rivera/Kwyn Johnson (ASU) def. Jessica Manley/Halli Amaro (ARIZ) 21-19, 21-18
Match Notes: Order of finish: Doubles (4,5,2,3,1);
By virtue of the win the Sun Devils also earned 1/2 of a point for Arizona State in the Territorial Cup standings.
An exciting afternoon of competition that featured a 1-1 split through the match's first flight, culminated in a meeting of Arizona State and Arizona's No. 1 pairs with the deciding point at stake. After dropping the first set 21-19. the Sun Devils' senior duo of Bianca Arellano and Whitney Follette battled back to earn consecutive set victories of 21-13 and 15-10 respectively, to clinch the match-winning point over Arizona's McKenna and Madison Witt.
The Maroon and Gold were also propelled to victory by strong efforts from the team's No. 2 and 5 pairs.
Competing as the No. 5 duo in the competition, Sydney Palmer and Bethany Wedepohl provided the Sun Devils momentum heading into the second flight, cruising to a two-set sweep (24-22, 21-8) of Arizona's Natalie Anselmo and Tyler Spriggs.
Riding on the momentum of their teammate's sweep, the Sun Devils No. 2 pair featuring Madison Berridge and Oluoma Okaro followed suit earning a two- set sweep of their own (21-14, 21-14).
Arellano and Follette would then cap the competition in exciting fashion, with their three-set victory over the Witt sisters.
Up next, the Sun Devils return to Tempe for their home opener in the annual Sun Devil Challenge, March 11-12 at the PERA Club. ASU will match-up again with Arizona for the second half of the Territorial Cup point at 7:00 p.m. MT on Saturday, March 11. They will also face New Mexico and Texas A&M Kingsville on Sunday, March 12 at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. MT, respectively.
Match Results:
1. Bianca Arellano/Whitney Follette (ASU) def. McKenna Witt/Madison Witt (ARIZ) 19-21, 21-13, 15-10
2. Madison Berridge/Oluoma Okaro (ASU) def. Brooke Burling/Kendra Dahlke (ARIZ) 21-14, 21-14
3. Olivia Macdonald/Olivia Hallaran (ARIZ) def. Cassidy Pickrell/Katelyn Carballo (ASU) 21-19, 23-21
4. Hailey Devlin/Sam Manley (ARIZ) def. Katie Cross/Frances Giedraitis (ASU) 21-7, 21-15
5. Sydney Palmer/Bethany Wedepohl (ASU) def. Natalie Anselmo/Tyler Spriggs (ARIZ) 24-22, 21-8
Ext. Mia Rivera/Kwyn Johnson (ASU) def. Jessica Manley/Halli Amaro (ARIZ) 21-19, 21-18
Match Notes: Order of finish: Doubles (4,5,2,3,1);