SANTA MONICA, Calif.—The Arizona State sand volleyball team (7-12) went 2-2 in the dual match portion of the Pac-12 Tournament, defeating California and upsetting No. 8 UCLA on Saturday at the Annenberg Community Beach House.
ASU started the day with a 4-1 victory over the Bears, juniors Bianca Arellano and Macey Gardner teaming up at No. 1 to defeat Sarah Cole and Emily Lunt, 21-18, 21-18, to clinch the win.
Seniors Jordy Checkal and Bethany Jorgensen defeated Bryce Bark and Emily Shults, 21-11, 21-16, at No. 2, while junior Whitney Follette and freshman Halle Harker defeated Inanna Eshoo and Katie Regalia, 21-10, 21-18, at No. 3. Also for the Sun Devils, Frances Giedraitis and Kwyn Johnson picked up the win at No. 5, defeating Allison Leong and Teva Neff, 15-21, 21-17, 15-10.
In the second match of the day, ASU fell to undefeated No. 1 USC, 4-1, with Checkal and Jorgensen picking up the win at No. 2 over Sophie Bukovec and Alexa Strange, 25-23, 21-17.
ASU rebounded with a 3-2 victory over No. 8 UCLA, with the Sun Devils winning on the final three courts to clinch the win. Checkal and Jorgensen defeated Madie Smith and Elise Zappia, 21-17, 21-18, at No. 2, followed by a win from Arellano and Gardner over Zoe Nightengale and Kamila Tan in three sets, 13-21, 21-14, 17-15.
Follette and Harker also went three sets to clinch the Sun Devil victory at No. 3, defeating Julie Cosani and Laurel Weaver, 22-20, 20-22, 15-11.
In the Sun Devils’ final match of the day, ASU fell to the No. 10 Wildcats, 3-2. Follette and Harker defeated Emily Kiser and Rachel Rhoades at No. 3, 21-19, 21-12, while freshman Sydney Palmer and junior Kizzy Willey grabbed the win at No. 4, 21-16, 21-14.
With the loss, Arizona secures the Territorial Cup Series point for sand volleyball.
Up next for ASU is the pairs portion of the Pac-12 Tournament on Sunday, featuring two competition brackets, the Silver Bracket (10 pairs; the 4s and 5s) and the Gold Bracket (15 pairs; the 1s, 2s, and 3s). These matches will start at 9 a.m. PT.
Arizona State 4, California 1
1. Bianca Arellano/Macey Gardner (ASU) def. Sarah Cole/Emily Lunt (CAL); 21-18, 21-18
2. Jordy Checkal/Bethany Jorgensen (ASU) def. Bryce Bark/Emily Shults (CAL); 21-11, 21-16
3. Whitney Follette/Halle Harker (ASU) def. Inanna Eshoo/Katie Regalia (CAL); 21-10, 21-18
4. Mackenzie Feldman/Sammy Furlan (CAL) def. Mia Rivera/Kizzy Willey (ASU); 21-14, 21-12
5. Frances Giedraitis/Kwyn Johnson (ASU) def. Allison Leong/Teya Neff (CAL); 15-21, 21-17, 15-10
Order of finish: 4, 3, 2, 1*, 5
No. 1 USC 4, Arizona State 1
1. Kelly Claes/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Bianca Arellano/Macey Gardner (ASU); 21-12, 21-11
2. Jordy Checkal/Bethany Jorgensen (ASU) def. Sophie Bukovec/Alexa Strange (USC); 25-23, 21-17
3. Eve Ettinger/Meg Norton (USC) def. Whitney Follette/Halle Harker (ASU); 21-9, 21-19
4. Nicolette Martin/Allie Wheeler (USC) def. Mia Rivera/Kizzy Willey (ASU); 21-7, 21-13
5. Jenna Belton/Bria Russ (USC) def. Frances Giedraitis/Kwyn Johnson (ASU); 21-5, 21-7
Order of finish: 5, 4, 1*, 3, 2
Arizona State 3, No. 8 UCLA 2
1. Bianca Arellano/Macey Gardner (ASU) def. Zoe Nightingale/Kamila Tan (UCLA); 13-21, 21-14, 17-15
2. Jordy Checkal/Bethany Jorgensen (ASU) def. Madie Smith/Elise Zappia (UCLA); 21-17, 21-18
3. Whitney Follette/Halle Harker (ASU) def. Julie Consani/Laurel Weaver (UCLA); 22-20, 20-22, 15-11
4. Karly Drolson/Rachel Inouye (UCLA) def. Sydney Palmer/Kizzy Willey (ASU); 21-15, 21-10
5. Lexi Jasper-Baylin/Ivey Schmitt (UCLA) def. Frances Giedraitis/Kwyn Johnson (ASU); 21-14, 21-11
Order of finish: 5, 4, 2, 1, 3*
No. 10 Arizona 3, Arizona State 2
1. Madison Witt/McKenna Witt (ARIZ) def. Bianca Arellano/Macey Gardner (ASU); 21-12, 21-17
2. Kaitlyn Leary/Kendall Polan (ARIZ) def. Jordy Checkal/Bethany Jorgensen (ASU); 21-14, 21-14
3. Whitney Follette/Halle Harker (ASU) def. Emily Kiser/Rachel Rhoades (ARIZ); 21-19, 21-12
4. Sydney Palmer/Kizzy Willey (ASU) def. Taylor Arizobal/Allie Cook (ARIZ); 21-16, 21-14
5. Hailey Devlin/Sarah Seiber (ARIZ) def. Frances Giedraitis/Mia Rivera (ASU); 21-13, 21-9
Order of finish: 4, 5, 1, 2*, 3