TEMPE – No. 6 seed Sun Devil Beach Volleyball closed day two of the Pac-12 Championships with an upset over No. 4 seed Cal. The Sand Devils kicked off the day with a decisive 3-0 win over No. 7 seed Arizona.
The deciding match against Cal (21-13) came down to the No. 4 duo Kate Fitzgerald and Ava Kirunchyk. The Sand Devils (21-8) gained early momentum after winning set one, 26-24. While the pair dropped set two, they were able to come back in a dramatic third set and win the dual for ASU, 20-18. This marks the fifth time in program history that the Sand Devils have taken down the Bears.
Today’s wins brings the season’s ranked wins to 11, extending the current season record. The victory against Cal marks the 21st win of the season, tying the record for most wins in a single season.
The No. 3 pair of senior Taryn Ames and graduate Lexi Sweeney moved up on the career individual wins list at ASU, now tied for fourth with 60. They won both of their matches today.
The other pair to win both matches today was the top pair of sophomore Daniella Kensinger and freshman Ava Williamson.
Game One: ASU 3, Arizona 0
It was a clean sweep for the Sun Devils in the first dual to stay in the tournament. All three courts that won did so in straight sets. It started with the threes and fives getting it done before the top pair clinched the win. ASU also won the first sets on courts two and four before the dual was decided.
Results (Order of Finish: 5, 3, 1*)
- Daniella Kensinger/Ava Williamson (ASU) def. McElroy/Russell (ARIZ) 21-17, 21-14
- Arden Besecker/Anya Pemberton (ASU) vs. Kost/Shannon (ARIZ) 21-16 DNF
- Taryn Ames/Lexi Sweeney (ASU) def. Cook/Fitzsimmons (ARIZ) 21-14, 21-18
- Kate Fitzgerald/Ava Kirunchyk (ASU) vs. Horwath/Phillips (ARIZ) 21-18, 8-6 DNF
- Ava Haughy/Adriana Nieves Papaleo (ASU) def. Erro/Zilliken (ARIZ) 21-12, 21-18
Game Two: ASU 3, Cal 2
No. 4 duo Fitzgerald and Kirunchyk won the dual for ASU in a dramatic three-set finish to upset No. 4 Cal. The pair took the final set all the way to 20-18 to eliminate the Bears and advance to the final day of the Pac-12 Championships. The No. 1 pair of Kensinger and Williamson played an incredible match. All three sets were decided by two points, with the last two going to extras. In the third set, Cal had match point at 14-11, but ASU came storming back…
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