KINGSVILLE, Texas – With back-to-back sweeps, Arizona State beach volleyball set a new program record for wins in a season with 17, taking down both Abilene Christian and Texas A&M-Kingsville on Friday, part of the Kingsville Beach Bash.
The Sun Devils (17-12, 2-4 Pac-12) lost just two sets, both coming against the Javelinas. The new record total of 17 victories surpasses the previous high of 16 that came in 2017. ASU has now won three of the last four matches. Kate Baldwin and Samantha Plaster inched two wins closer to breaking the program's all-time pairs victory record. They now have 40 in their career together, one shy of tying the 41-win mark set by Bianca Arellano and Whitney Follette.
Match One – ASU 5, ACU 0
In the first match of the day, Arizona State dominated Abilene Christian (3-11). Not only did the Sun Devils win in a 5-0 sweep, but they did not lose a single set. A few pairs were switched up for this match. Katie Cross and Katelyn Carballo, who have played together before, reunited on court two. Ellyson Lundberg and Cierra Flood played together for the first time on court three.
Results (Order of Finish: 5, 4, 2, 3, 1)
1) Oluoma Okaro/Ashley Wenz (ASU) def. Eighmy Dobbins/Kate Mueller (ACU) 21-12, 21-7
2) Katelyn Carballo/Katie Cross (ASU) def. Hunter Barker/Mackenzie Harris (ACU) 21-6, 21-6
3) Cierra Flood/Ellyson Lundberg (ASU) def. Kennedy Shelstead/Amy Weiss (ACU) 21-11, 21-8
4) Emily Anderson/Lauren Weintraub (ASU) def. Brittany Roberts/Marybeth Sandercox (ACU) 21-10, 21-8
5) Kate Baldwin/Samantha Plaster (ASU) def. Sofia Resendiz/Lindsey Toney (ACU) 21-13, 21-11
Match Two – ASU 5, TAMUK 0
The second dual against Texas A&M-Kingsville (11-12) saw closer matches as the top two courts went to three sets. After Arizona State took the three, four and five matches in two sets, the top two courts had to play a little longer.
Oluoma Okaro and Ashley Wenz took the first set on court one in an intense 26-24 set, but the Javelinas came back to win the second set. The Sun Devils handled the third set, 15-8. Katelyn Carballo and Katie Cross, the No. 2 duo, had the opposite situation. They lost their first set and came back to win the next two, including a close 16-14 third-set win.
Results (Order of Finish: 4, 5, 3, 2, 1)
1) Oluoma Okaro/Ashley Wenz (ASU) def. Tenley Housler/Whitney Walker (TAMUK) 26-24, 19-21, 15-8
2) Katelyn Carballo/Katie Cross (ASU) def. Kylexus Block/Madison Brabham (TAMUK) 16-21, 21-12, 16-14
3) Emily Anderson/Lauren Weintraub (ASU) def. Macy Berg/Haley Hutchinson (TAMUK) 21-10, 21-13
4) Ellyson Lundberg/Cierra Flood (ASU) def. Kadi Shipman/Maelee Sowa (TAMUK) 21-9, 21-12
5) Kate Baldwin/Samantha Plaster (ASU) def. Christina Gragasin/Nicole Murff (TAMUK) 21-12, 21-11
The Sun Devils will play their last two matches of the regular season on Saturday. ASU will have a rematch with Abilene Christian at 9 a.m. MST before playing Park University at 11 a.m. MST.
The Sun Devils (17-12, 2-4 Pac-12) lost just two sets, both coming against the Javelinas. The new record total of 17 victories surpasses the previous high of 16 that came in 2017. ASU has now won three of the last four matches. Kate Baldwin and Samantha Plaster inched two wins closer to breaking the program's all-time pairs victory record. They now have 40 in their career together, one shy of tying the 41-win mark set by Bianca Arellano and Whitney Follette.
Match One – ASU 5, ACU 0
In the first match of the day, Arizona State dominated Abilene Christian (3-11). Not only did the Sun Devils win in a 5-0 sweep, but they did not lose a single set. A few pairs were switched up for this match. Katie Cross and Katelyn Carballo, who have played together before, reunited on court two. Ellyson Lundberg and Cierra Flood played together for the first time on court three.
Results (Order of Finish: 5, 4, 2, 3, 1)
1) Oluoma Okaro/Ashley Wenz (ASU) def. Eighmy Dobbins/Kate Mueller (ACU) 21-12, 21-7
2) Katelyn Carballo/Katie Cross (ASU) def. Hunter Barker/Mackenzie Harris (ACU) 21-6, 21-6
3) Cierra Flood/Ellyson Lundberg (ASU) def. Kennedy Shelstead/Amy Weiss (ACU) 21-11, 21-8
4) Emily Anderson/Lauren Weintraub (ASU) def. Brittany Roberts/Marybeth Sandercox (ACU) 21-10, 21-8
5) Kate Baldwin/Samantha Plaster (ASU) def. Sofia Resendiz/Lindsey Toney (ACU) 21-13, 21-11
Match Two – ASU 5, TAMUK 0
The second dual against Texas A&M-Kingsville (11-12) saw closer matches as the top two courts went to three sets. After Arizona State took the three, four and five matches in two sets, the top two courts had to play a little longer.
Oluoma Okaro and Ashley Wenz took the first set on court one in an intense 26-24 set, but the Javelinas came back to win the second set. The Sun Devils handled the third set, 15-8. Katelyn Carballo and Katie Cross, the No. 2 duo, had the opposite situation. They lost their first set and came back to win the next two, including a close 16-14 third-set win.
Results (Order of Finish: 4, 5, 3, 2, 1)
1) Oluoma Okaro/Ashley Wenz (ASU) def. Tenley Housler/Whitney Walker (TAMUK) 26-24, 19-21, 15-8
2) Katelyn Carballo/Katie Cross (ASU) def. Kylexus Block/Madison Brabham (TAMUK) 16-21, 21-12, 16-14
3) Emily Anderson/Lauren Weintraub (ASU) def. Macy Berg/Haley Hutchinson (TAMUK) 21-10, 21-13
4) Ellyson Lundberg/Cierra Flood (ASU) def. Kadi Shipman/Maelee Sowa (TAMUK) 21-9, 21-12
5) Kate Baldwin/Samantha Plaster (ASU) def. Christina Gragasin/Nicole Murff (TAMUK) 21-12, 21-11
The Sun Devils will play their last two matches of the regular season on Saturday. ASU will have a rematch with Abilene Christian at 9 a.m. MST before playing Park University at 11 a.m. MST.