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2022 Sand Devils Season Recap

2022 Sand Devils Season Recap2022 Sand Devils Season Recap
PETER VANDER STOEP

In the 2022 season, Sun Devil Beach Volleyball built on the previous year and earned the second-highest win total in program history, while hosting big games in the brand new facility.

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Year in Review

With six seasons now under his belt, head coach Brad Keenan pushed the program to a 17-15 record, the second-highest win total in ASU history. This season also eclipsed the century mark in program wins, now at 104 all-time. The Sand Devils earned five Pac-12 wins, which is the most they’ve had in the seven years of conference play. Additionally, there was a five-dual win streak early in the year, which is tied for the second-longest streak in program history.

Arizona State earned two ranked wins, both against in-state rival Arizona. The first came at home, the first day of duals in the new Sun Devil Beach Volleyball Facility. ASU edged out a 3-2 win over then-No. 13 Arizona. The second came in the Pac-12 Championships in a win-or–go-home situation. The Sun Devils won that dual 3-1 to match its best showing at the championships with fourth-place finish.

 

Individual Success

A handful of Sand Devils made their mark in the record book after the 2022 season. Fifth-year senior Cierra Flood played in the No. 1 spot all season and increased her career win total to 64, good for second all-time. She and her partner junior Lexi Sweeney had a 13-17 record together, which is the ninth-best single-season win total for a single pair. Sweeney moved up on the career win list as well, improving to 30 career wins to put her in 11th. 

The win leaders this season were senior Maddy Salazar and sophomore Kate Fitzgerald, both earning 17 wins. That win mark is tied for 15th in the record book for single-season wins. The two of them swapped partners, Salazar starting with freshman Kylie Wickley and Fitzgerald beginning with sophomore Taryn Ames, who she had paired with for part of 2021 as well. Partway through the season, they switched partners, Fitzgerald pairing with Wickley at the No. 4 spot and Salazar and Ames teaming up on court five. Wickley and Ames were right behind their respective partners with their 16 wins in 2022.

A few other Sand Devils reached double-digit wins as well. Junior Sarah Waters played in the No. 3 spot all season and earned a 14-16 record there. Sophomore Lila Bordis had 12 wins between courts two and three.

Newcomers

In addition to Wickley, a few other freshmen made their mark on the team. Anya Pemberton and Rylie Kael were two freshmen that played all season. They were initially paired together at the No. 2 spot before switching partners. Pemberton paired with Bordis on court two and Kael teamed up with Waters on court three. Pemberton earned eight wins while Kael had nine.

A couple other Sun Devils made collegiate debuts this season. Malina Baker, Shane Burleson, Cambria Hall, Jensen Kaelin, Maria Kowal, Maia Nichols, Ivey Weber and Kaitlyn Winkelman all played in at least one dual this season. Most of them made their debuts the day of the home finale.

 

Awards

The No. 1 duo of Flood and Sweeney made the Pac-12 All-Tournament Team for their efforts at the championship. They were the first ASU duo to do so since 2019. 

Coming in 2023

Three Sun Devil seniors are moving on: Flood, Salazar and Lauren Weintraub. The team will be adding another solid group of freshmen set to contribute next season.