TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona State beach volleyball team split their matches on day one of their final home tournament this season as they defeated Utah 4-1 and came up short against No. 7 Cal Poly, 3-2.
The Sun Devils are now 15-11 on the year, 2-4 in the Pac-12 after picking up their second conference win against the Utes. The No. 4 pair of Samantha Plaster and Kate Baldwin as well as the No. 5 pair of Lauren Weintraub and Emily Anderson were perfect on the day. Weintraub and Anderson defeated both Utah and Cal Poly in two sets each, while Plaster and Baldwin defeated Utah in two and Cal Poly in three.
Match One - ASU 4, Utah 1
The Sun Devils started off strong, taking the first round of duals in decisive two-set victories. The wins by the No. 4 pair of Plaster and Baldwin and the No. 5 pair of Emily Anderson and Weintraub gave ASU a 2-0 lead heading into the second round of action.
Utah (3-5, 0-1 Pac-12) answered back in the second round, taking the first set in the No 1. and No. 3 duals. The Sand Devils bounced back, taking their matches in three sets. The No. 2 pair of Ellyson Lundberg and Katelyn Carballo were defeated in three sets, giving the Utes their sole point in the match.
Results (Order of finish: 4, 5, 1*, 3, 2)
1) Oluoma Okaro/Ashley Wenz (ASU) def. Tawnee Luafalemana/Dani Drews (Utah) 14-21, 21-17, 15-7
2) Kenzie Koerber/Megan Yett (Utah) def. Katelyn Carballo/Ellyson Lundberg (ASU) 13-21, 21-18, 15-12
3) Katie Cross/Cierra (ASU) Flood def. Jessica Villela/Lauren Sproule (Utah) 19-21, 21-10, 15-10
4) Samantha Plaster/Kate Baldwin (ASU) def. Phoebe Grace/Olivia Teerlink (Utah) 21-4, 21-16
5) Lauren Weintraub/Emily Anderson (ASU) def. Kinga Windisch/Keana Smalls (Utah) 21-16, 21-19
Match Two - ASU 2, No. 7 Cal Poly 3
The Sun Devils had another strong start as they went ahead 2-0 in the match, winning both the No. 4 and No. 5 duals. The fives got it done in two while Plaster and Baldwin took theirs in three. Cal Poly would take the final three duals in two sets to win the match, 3-2.
Results (Order of finish: 5, 4, 3, 1, 2*)
1) Emily Sonny/Tia Miric (CP) def. Oluoma Okaro/Ashley Wenz (ASU) 21-18, 21-11
2) Vanessa Roscoe/Macy Gordon (CP) def. Katelyn Carballo/Elly Lundberg (ASU) 21-17, 21-18
3) Kat Wright/Jayelin Lombard (CP) def. Katie Cross/Cierra Flood (ASU) 21-17, 21-15
4) Samantha Plaster/Kate Baldwin (ASU) def. Heather Pembroke/Brayden Gruenewald (CP) 21-14, 19-21, 15-6
5) Lauren Weintraub/Emily Anderson (ASU) def. Delany Peranich/Sam Manley (CP) 21-17, 21-16
Fans have two more chances to catch the Sun Devils at home this season as they take on Abilene Christian at 12 p.m. MST and No. 14 Arizona at 4 p.m. MST on Sunday, April 7, at the PERA Club. Both matches are free and open to the public, and fans can follow along for updates on Twitter, @SunDevilBeachVB.
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