Four Hour Weather Delay Leads to the Sand Devils Finishing the Gamecock Grand Slam with a Win

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Sun Devil Beach Volleyball finished the Gamecock Grand Slam with a win against Houston Christian University. After a four hour weather delay, the Sand Devils beat the Huskies

Game One: HCU 2, ASU 3

The Sand Devils and Huskies match got off to a unique start. After the first rounds on courts one and two, the dual was delayed due to weather. After a four hour weather delay, the game was back on. Kate Fitzgerald and Rylie Kael continued to shine throughout the tournament. The duo swept the fifth court, earning the Sand Devils their first point of the game. 

Freshman duo Adriana Nieves Papaleo and Carys Thomas battled it out in a gritty three round match, eventually earning ASU the second point of the game. Veterans Sarah Waters and Taryn Ames clinched the dual for the Sand Devils. Waters and Ames swept the third court 21-17 and 23-21. 

Final Results (Order of Finish: 5, 4, 3*, 2, 1)

1. Butters/Stanfill (HCU) def. Lexi Sweeney/Kylie Wickley (ASU) 21-18, 18-21, 15-9
2. Harris/Kleymeyer def. Kendall Whitmarsh/Ivey Weber (ASU) 21-19, 21-14
3. Taryn Ames/Sarah Waters (ASU) def. Reinard/Bufkin (HCU) 21-17, 23-21
4. Adriana Nieves Papaleo/Carys Thomas (ASU) def. Palmer/O’Neal (HCU) 15-21, 21-19, 15-13
5. Kate Fitzgerald/Rylie Kael (ASU) def. Alper/Griffith (HCU) 21-16, 24-22

Game Two against the Tampa Spartans was canceled due to weather conditions. The Sand Devils finished the tournament 1-2. 

Up Next:

The Sand Devils look to continue their win streak against conference and in-state rivals No. 19 Arizona on Wednesday at home. The match is slated to start at 2:30 p.m. MST at the Sun Devil Beach Volleyball Facility. The match will be free to the public and can be followed via live stats, Instagram and Twitter (@SunDevilBeachVB).