The Season Begins With a Trip to No. 8 Washington This Weekend

ASU Notes

TEMPE, Ariz. – The first weekend of competition is finally here for Sun Devil Volleyball, with matches at No. 8 Washington waiting for them on Friday and Saturday.
 
Sun Devil Outlook
Arizona State (0-0)

• Arizona State has just four upperclassmen on the roster and four returning starters (Megan Beedie, Kennedi Boyd, Iman Isanovic and Noa Miller). Rounding out the team, there are eight freshmen and six sophomores.
• Senior Megan Beedie, the lone senior, will continue to be a vital player. She has the highest career numbers in multiple categories with 375 kills, 149 blocks and 23 aces.
• Sophomore Iman Isanovic is the lone returning outside hitter for Arizona State. She was one of five pin hitters with over 200 kills in 2019 with 216 in an impressive freshman season. She was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week partway through the year after notching 22 kills in the comeback win at WSU.
• ASU will have a new libero for the first time since 2017 with Courtney Leffel (the starter in 2018 and 2019) graduating after finishing No. 6 in the record book for all-time digs at Arizona State. 
• The Sun Devils are kicking off the spring 2021 season at head coach Sanja Tomasevic's alma mater. She graduated from Washington in 2006 after helping the team to a national championship in 2005. The former outside hitter ended her collegiate career as Washington's all-time leader in points (2,159.5), kills (1,795) and service aces (156).

Opponent Outlook
No. 8 Washington (0-0)

• In the AVCA preseason poll, the Huskies were ranked No. 8 in the nation. Additionally, in the Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll, they were picked to finish in second place, which is also where they finished last season.
• The 2019 season was a successful one for Washington. The team advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament, ultimately falling to No. 1 Baylor. UW's final record was 27-7, 15-5 in Pac-12 play which put the Huskies in second.
• UW returns All-American setter Ella May Powell and All-Pac-12 honorable mention seniors Lauren Sanders and Samantha Drechsel.
• Last season, Arizona State fell in both matches against Washington, dropping both with a 3-1 margin.

How to Watch
The two matches will be on the Washington Live Stream at 4 p.m. MST on both days. For live updates, follow along on Twitter (@SunDevilVB).