Sand Devils Open Season With Setbacks
PHOENIX – Three pairs picked up wins but Sun Devil Beach Volleyball dropped both of the duals, 3-2 to Boise State and 4-1 to No. 9 Grand Canyon, on the first day of the season at the Canyon Classic at GCU University on Friday.
Three was the magic number on the first day of competition. ASU (0-2) saw some close matches with three going to three sets. Additionally, there were three match wins throughout the day. Finally, three Sand Devils made their collegiate debuts: freshmen Rylie Kael and Anya Pemberton, and sophomore Cambria Hall.
Game One: Boise State 3, Arizona State 2
The first dual was a battle with the Broncos. Despite the loss, two pairs got the job done. At the ones, fifth-year senior Cierra Flood and junior Lexi Sweeney took their match to three and came out victorious. This was Flood's first time playing on the top court, a spot Sweeney occupied all of last season. The other win came from sophomore Lila Bordis and junior Sarah Waters on court three, winning their match in straight sets.
Results (Order of Finish: 4, 2, 3, 1, 5*)
1). Cierra Flood/Lexi Sweeney (ASU) def Martin/Tan (BSU) 13-21, 21-11, 15-11
2). Chartier/Land (BSU) def. Rylie Kael/Anya Pemberton (ASU) 22-20, 21-18
3). Lila Bordis/Sarah Waters (ASU) def. Boss/Nichols (BSU) 21-17, 22-20
4). Mejic/O'Neil (BSU) def. Taryn Ames/Kate Fitzgerald (ASU) 21-16, 21-18
5). Benson/Guerra (BSU) def. Cambria Hall/Maddy Salazar (ASU) 23-21, 26-24
Game Two: No. 9 Grand Canyon 4, Arizona State 1
The Sun Devils came up short against the host-team Lopes, who took down No. 12 Arizona in the dual prior. After a heartbreaker in their first match, Cambria Hall and Maddy Salazar saw more drama in their second match, this time getting the win in three sets. This was Hall's first win of her career after she made her debut against Boise State.
Results (Order of Finish: 2, 4, 1*, 3, 5)
- Evans/Vastine (GCU) def. Cierra Flood/Lexi Sweeney (ASU) 21-13, 21-17
- Hansen/Navas (GCU) def. Rylie Kael/Anya Pemberton (ASU) 21-13, 21-16
- DeFalco/Morin (GCU) def. Lila Bordis/Sarah Waters (ASU) 21-12, 21-17
- Hughes/Roskic (GCU) def. Taryn Ames/Kate Fitzgerald (ASU) 21-11, 17-21, 15-7
- Cambria Hall/Maddy Salazar (ASU) def. Sanchez/Relaz (GCU) 24-22, 19-21, 15-13
Up Next
Saturday of the Canyon Classic will be a pairs tournament with Arizona, Boise State and Grand Canyon. Follow along on social media (@SunDevilBeachVB) for updates.