The ASU beach volleyball team suffered an 0-4 weekend at the Hawaii Tournament following upset losses to Boise State and lopsided defeats to No. 3 Hawaii.
For the ASU beach volleyball program, one thing is certain:
“The Aloha Spirit” didn’t survive long this weekend.
The Sun Devils (10-17) entered their final regular season tournament with high hopes, sweeping five of their last nine opponents while winning seven of their last 10 overall matches. This weekend’s Hawaii trip was lined up to be a measuring stick for the team’s postseason aspirations at the end of the month.
Instead of optimism, the team returns home with more questions.
ASU kicked off the Hawaii Tournament against Boise State, an opponent that entered the weekend with a 5-35 record through their five lineups. The Sun Devils would suffer an upset loss by a score of three matches to two.
Katelyn Carballo and Ellyson Lundberg picked up a win for ASU at the No. 3 spot, defeating Kylee Johnson and Maya Watkins by set scores of 21-17 and 21-9.
Samantha Plaster and Kate Baldwin would add a point for the Sun Devils in the No. 5 matchup with a 21-11, 21-15 victory over Kenna Hanses and Skye Southwick.
ASU’s three match losses would come in the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4 matches. The surprise upset of the day came when Jaymee-Lee Bulda and Jensen Allen knocked off Katie Cross and Cierra Flood by set scores of 22-20 and 21-19.
The Sun Devils finished their first day of the tournament with their first crack at No. 3 Hawaii. The result wasn’t ideal, as the Devils suffered their fourth sweep of the season at the hands of the Rainbow Wahine.
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ASU returned to action for the second day of the Hawaii Tournament, looking to avenge their upset loss to the Broncos in the first match on Sunday.
Coach Brad Keenan made the adjustment of moving Cross and Flood to the No. 5 position while starting Baldwin and Plaster at the No. 4 spot for a matchup change.
However, the result ended up the same, as the Sun Devils fell again by a score of three matches to two.
ASU picked up victories in the No. 3 and No. 5 positions, with Carballo and Lundberg and Cross and Flood dominating their respective opponents.
In the No. 4 slot, Plaster and Baldwin failed to provide a new impact for the Sun Devils, losing in straight sets to Bulda and Allen by scores of 21-16 and 21-14.
Kwyn Johnson and Mia Rivera extended their match to three sets against Sabryn Roberts and Janell Walley, but the Bronco pair would prevail with a 15-8 victory in the final frame.
Natalie Braun and Kara Woodard put together a gritty effort in the No. 2 match, but it wasn’t enough to defeat Kiley Lewis and Brindl Langley, who prevailed by set scores of 22-20 and 21-14.
The Sun Devils would wrap up the tournament with a rematch against Hawaii. Despite re-inserting Sydney Palmer and Frances Giedraitis back at the No. 2 lineup, ASU would fall by a similar score of 0-5.
The Devils’ No. 3 and No. 5 pairs would again provide the closest efforts in the match, falling by an average score of 2.25 points in sets they were swept in.
The Rainbow Wahine would go on to dominate in the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4 matches, winning each set by no less than four points.
Next: ASU Beach Volleyball: Sun Devils finish strong on Senior Day
The Sun Devils will now return home for their final regular season match of the year against the University of Arizona, where they’ll look to even up the point count for the beach volleyball portion of the Territorial Cup. The match will be hosted at the PERA Club in Tempe on Wednesday with a 6 p.m. PT first serve.