Arizona Stages Thrilling Upset Against ASU, Remains Undefeated at Home

TUCSON, Ariz.- In their final home match of the season, the No. 19 Sand Cats upset No. 13 Arizona State in a nail-biting 3-2 victory at Bear Down Beach. The Sand Cats remained undefeated at home throughout the 2024 season. 

Arizona's Miranda Erro/Ashlyn Zilliken clinched Arizona's win at No. 5. The final court playing, the pairs at No. 5 battled back and forth in three sets, with the Wildcats ultimately emerging victorious (21-13, 18-21, 19-17). Erro and Zilliken have a 14-11 (.56) record heading into this weekend's tournament. 

At the No. 1 position, Arizona's Abby Russell/Olivia McElroy fell just short against the Sun Devils in two sets. The pair is now 17-11 (.607) in the 2024 season. 

At No. 2, pair Hope Shannon/Annie Kost played a well-matched three sets against the ASU pair ultimately falling in a 15-13 third-set loss. Kost and Shannon now have a 13-5 (.722) record on the season.

Playing at the No. 3 position, Grace Cook/ Kylee Fitzsimmons earned an exciting win in three sets against the Sun Devils. The pair is now 11-7 (.611) on the season. 

At No. 4, Horwath and Phillips staged an exciting comeback after a 21-15 first set loss. The freshman pair won the next two sets against ASU, earning the first point of the dual for the Sand Cats. 

LOOKING AHEAD

The Wildcats will head to Los Angeles to compete in the LMU Tri-Dual April 20. 

#19 Arizona – 3 , #13 ASU – 2

Court 1: Daniella Kensinger and Ava Williamson (ASU) def. Abby Russell and Olivia McElroy (ARIZ) 21-11, 21-13

Court 2: Anya Pemberton and Arden Besecker (ASU) def. Annie Kost and Hope Shannon (ARIZ) 21-14,15-21, 15-13

Court 3: Kylee Fitzsimmons and Grace Cook (ARIZ) def. Taryn Ames and Lexi Sweeney (ASU) 21-15, 21-17

Court 4:  Jess Horwath and Kate Phillips (ARIZ) def. Ava Kirunchyk and Ava Haughty (ASU) 15-21, 21-16, 15-10

Court 5: Ashlyn Zilliken and Miranda Erro (ARIZ) def. Kendall Whitmarsh and Adriana Nieves Papaleo (ASU) 21-13, 18-21, 19-17