TEMPE, Ariz. - In the final two matches at home in 2019, Arizona State beach volleyball swept Abilene Christian before falling to No. 14 Arizona, 4-1, at the PERA Club on Sunday.
The Sun Devils (15-12, 2-5 Pac-12) finished the weekend with an even 2-2 record. They still have yet to lose to a team that is not ranked in the top 20. The Wildcats won the second of two matchups this season, securing the Territorial Cup point for Arizona.
Seniors Oluoma Okaro and Ashley Wenz went out in style in their final matches at the PERA Club. They won both of their matches in two sets, including a win over the top Wildcat duo.
Over all four matches, they went 3-1 and improved to 15-3 on the year. The No. 4 pair of Kate Baldwin and Samantha Plaster as well as the No. 5 pair of Emily Anderson and Lauren Weintraub also went 3-1 this weekend. Baldwin and Plaster improved their season record to 19-7, the most wins of any ASU duo.
The five Sand Devil seniors were honored prior to the Arizona match: Natalie Braun, Katie Cross, Okaro, Wenz and Carmen Unzue.
Match One - ASU 5, ACU 0
The Sun Devils put on a dominant performance as they swept ACU (2-9), winning each dual in two sets. Playing up as the No. 2 pair in this match, Katie Cross and Cierra Flood earned their second win of the weekend. Katelyn Carballo and Ellyson Lundberg earned their first win playing as the No. 3 pair this weekend.
Results (Order of finish: 5, 4, 1*, 2, 3)
1) Oluoma Okaro/Ashley Wenz (ASU) def. Kate Mueller/Eighmy Dobbins (ACU) 21-15, 21-10
2) Katie Cross/Cierra Flood (ASU) def. Hunter Barker/MacKenzie Harris (ACU) 21-15, 21-11
3) Katelyn Carballo/Ellyson Lundberg (ASU) def. Amy Weiss/Kennedy Shelstead (ACU) 21-15, 21-12
4) Samantha Plaster/Kate Baldwin (ASU) def. Marybeth Sandercox/Brittney Roberts (ACU) 21-16, 21-11
5) Lauren Weintraub/Emily Anderson (ASU) def. Sofia Resendiz/Lindsey Toney (ACU) 21-7, 21-17
Match Two - ASU 1, No. 14 Arizona 4
The Wildcats (17-4) took the early 2-0 lead after winning on courts four and five in two sets. However, the Sand Devils' top pair of Okaro and Wenz took it to the opponents' top duo, winning in two sets. Unfortunately, by the time they won, Arizona had already taken the dual points on courts two and three.
Results (Order of finish: 4, 5, 2*, 1, 3)
1) Oluoma Okaro/Ashley Wenz (ASU) def. Olivia Hallaran/Mia Mason (UA) 21-16, 21-16
2) Jonny Baham/Brooke Burling (UA) def. Katie Cross/Cierra Flood (ASU) 21-17, 21-16
3) Natalie Anselmo/Madison Rigdon (UA) def. Katelyn Carballo/Ellyson Lundberg (ASU) 21-15, 21-18
4) Sarah Blacker/Jasmine Safar (UA) def. Samantha Plaster/Kate Baldwin (ASU) 23-21, 21-19
5) Dana Parker/Ainise Havili (UA) def. Lauren Weintraub/Emily Anderson (ASU) 21-10, 21-18
The Sun Devils will wrap up the regular season on the road next weekend at the Kingsville Beach Bash. They will play four matches between Friday and Saturday.
The Sun Devils (15-12, 2-5 Pac-12) finished the weekend with an even 2-2 record. They still have yet to lose to a team that is not ranked in the top 20. The Wildcats won the second of two matchups this season, securing the Territorial Cup point for Arizona.
Seniors Oluoma Okaro and Ashley Wenz went out in style in their final matches at the PERA Club. They won both of their matches in two sets, including a win over the top Wildcat duo.
Over all four matches, they went 3-1 and improved to 15-3 on the year. The No. 4 pair of Kate Baldwin and Samantha Plaster as well as the No. 5 pair of Emily Anderson and Lauren Weintraub also went 3-1 this weekend. Baldwin and Plaster improved their season record to 19-7, the most wins of any ASU duo.
The five Sand Devil seniors were honored prior to the Arizona match: Natalie Braun, Katie Cross, Okaro, Wenz and Carmen Unzue.
Thank you to these amazing seniors ?? pic.twitter.com/eQd1c91deN
— Sun Devil Beach VB (@SunDevilBeachVB) April 7, 2019
Match One - ASU 5, ACU 0
The Sun Devils put on a dominant performance as they swept ACU (2-9), winning each dual in two sets. Playing up as the No. 2 pair in this match, Katie Cross and Cierra Flood earned their second win of the weekend. Katelyn Carballo and Ellyson Lundberg earned their first win playing as the No. 3 pair this weekend.
Results (Order of finish: 5, 4, 1*, 2, 3)
1) Oluoma Okaro/Ashley Wenz (ASU) def. Kate Mueller/Eighmy Dobbins (ACU) 21-15, 21-10
2) Katie Cross/Cierra Flood (ASU) def. Hunter Barker/MacKenzie Harris (ACU) 21-15, 21-11
3) Katelyn Carballo/Ellyson Lundberg (ASU) def. Amy Weiss/Kennedy Shelstead (ACU) 21-15, 21-12
4) Samantha Plaster/Kate Baldwin (ASU) def. Marybeth Sandercox/Brittney Roberts (ACU) 21-16, 21-11
5) Lauren Weintraub/Emily Anderson (ASU) def. Sofia Resendiz/Lindsey Toney (ACU) 21-7, 21-17
Match Two - ASU 1, No. 14 Arizona 4
The Wildcats (17-4) took the early 2-0 lead after winning on courts four and five in two sets. However, the Sand Devils' top pair of Okaro and Wenz took it to the opponents' top duo, winning in two sets. Unfortunately, by the time they won, Arizona had already taken the dual points on courts two and three.
Results (Order of finish: 4, 5, 2*, 1, 3)
1) Oluoma Okaro/Ashley Wenz (ASU) def. Olivia Hallaran/Mia Mason (UA) 21-16, 21-16
2) Jonny Baham/Brooke Burling (UA) def. Katie Cross/Cierra Flood (ASU) 21-17, 21-16
3) Natalie Anselmo/Madison Rigdon (UA) def. Katelyn Carballo/Ellyson Lundberg (ASU) 21-15, 21-18
4) Sarah Blacker/Jasmine Safar (UA) def. Samantha Plaster/Kate Baldwin (ASU) 23-21, 21-19
5) Dana Parker/Ainise Havili (UA) def. Lauren Weintraub/Emily Anderson (ASU) 21-10, 21-18
Oly and @ashhhwenz take down the Cats ?? on Court ??! pic.twitter.com/Mv9pQwFON8
— Sun Devil Beach VB (@SunDevilBeachVB) April 8, 2019
The Sun Devils will wrap up the regular season on the road next weekend at the Kingsville Beach Bash. They will play four matches between Friday and Saturday.