TAMPA, Fla. – No. 18 Sun Devil Beach Volleyball started the 2024 season with two wins, opening the year with an upset over No. 12 Georgia State before beating the host team Tampa on Friday at the Tampa Invite.
Head coach Kristen Rohr got her first win as the Arizona State leader. Additionally, she earned her 150th career win by getting the victory over Tampa.
This was the fourth season in program history where the season opener was against a ranked opponent, but this was the first time that resulted in a win for the Sun Devils.
Four Sun Devils made their collegiate debuts today: junior Ava Kirunchyk, sophomore Arden Besecker and freshmen Ava Haughy and Ava Williamson.
In the record book, graduate Lexi Sweeney and senior Taryn Ames, who were paired together, both moved into a tie for 10th place for career individual wins, now at 42.
Game One: No. 18 ASU 3, No. 12 GSU 2
The Sand Devils made a statement to start the season, beating No. 12 Georgia State. The Panthers started the season 0-2 against two ranked teams (also No. 11 Florida International). Arizona State got wins on courts two, three and five, clinching on court two with Besecker and Williamson. The veteran Sun Devil duo of senior Taryn Ames and graduate Lexi Sweeney won most handily, sweeping 21-16, 21-16. The two matches that ASU lost both went to three.
Final Results (Order of Finish: 4, 5, 3, 2*, 1)
- A. Ferary/B. Ferrari (GSU) def. Daniella Kensinger/Anya Pemberton (ASU) 18-21, 27-25, 15-8
- Arden Besecker/Ava Williamson (ASU) def. Bordis/Keller (GSU) 21-18, 23-21
- Taryn Ames/Lexi Sweeney (ASU) def. Saga/Vuorinen (GSU) 21-16, 21-16
- Ebarb/White (GSU) def. Ava Haughy/Ava Kirunchyk (ASU) 21-19, 23-25, 15-13
- Adriana Nieves Papaleo/Kendall Whitmarsh (ASU) def. Johnson/Neville (GSU) 18-21, 21-19, 15-9
Game Two: No. 18 ASU 4, Tampa 1
ASU ended the first day with a 4-1 win over Tampa (1-1), who had earlier in the day beaten No. 17 South Carolina. The Ava duo at the No. 4 spot earned their first wins of their career in a sweep. Additionally, Kensinger got her first win as a Sun Devil on court one.
Final Results (Order of Finish: 5, 4, 2*, 1, 3)
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Arizona State University Athletics…