TEMPE, Ariz. – The senior duo of Bianca Arellano and Whitney Follette, reigning All-Pac-12 First Team honorees, won the day at the 2017 Maroon and Gold Scrimmage on Saturday afternoon, at the PERA Club.
The pair opened the event with a victory over Kwyn Johsnon and Mia Rivera, 21-14. They then notched a 21-10 victory over Frances Giedratis and Katie Cross, 23-21 in the scrimmage's semi-final.
An exciting afternoon of play culminated in a finals matchup of Arellano/Follette and Cassidy Pickrell/Katelyn Carballo. The pair of Pickrell and Carballo advanced to the final with respective victories over Bethany Wedepohl and Sydney Palmer (22-20) as well as Oluoma Okaro and Madison Berridge (24-22).
Arellano and Follette ultimately earned the scrimmage title in a hard fought match, recording a 21-18 victory over Pickrell and Carballo.
First year Head Coach Brad Keenan pointed to the senior duo's familiarity and extensive playing time together as reasons for their continued success, "Playing together all last year was a big deal. I think they communicate well most of the time."
Keenan further explained his expectations for the team on the upcoming season, "Win. Win everything. One of my old coaches said serve and hit in. If you side out well and serve tough, I think we will be a tough team to beat."
Up next, the Sun Devils will officially kick off the 2017 campaign traveling down south to compete in the Arizona Invitational, Mar. 3-4. The Maroon and Gold will partake in three matches over the course of the two-day event, first taking on No. 5 Hawaii (12 p.m./MT) and then facing Jacksonville (4 p.m./MT) on Friday March 3. The will then return to action on Saturday March. 4, against rival Arizona at 11:00 a.m. MT with a Territorial Cup point at stake. The matchup will be broadcast live via Pac-12 Networks and Pac-12 Digital.
Quarterfinals:
Oluoma Okaro/Madison Berridge def. Ellyson Lundberg/Sage Patchell, 21-15
Whitney Follette/Bianca Arellano def. Kwyn Johnson/Mia Rivera, 21-14
Frances Giedraitis/Katie Cross def. Natalie Braun/Jourdan Parnell, 23-21
Cassidy Pickrell/Katelyn Carballo def. Bethany Wedepohl/Sydney Palmer, 22-20
Semifinals:
Whitney Follette/Bianca Arellano def. Frances Giedraitis/Katie Cross, 21-10
Cassidy Pickrell/Katelyn Carballo def. Oluoma Okaro/Madison Berridge, 24-22
Finals:
Whitney Follette/Bianca Arellano def. Cassidy Pickrell/Katelyn Carballo, 21-18
2017 SCHEDULE…
The Sun Devils will officially kick off the 2017 campaign Mar. 3-4, traveling south for the University of Arizona-hosted Arizona Invitational. Over the course of the two-day event the Maroon and Gold will square off with Hawaii, Jacksonville and rival Arizona.
On March 11-12, the Sun Devils will return home to host the program's annual Sun Devil Challenge at the PERA Club. Arizona State will play host to New Mexico, Texas A&M Kingsville, and Arizona.
The Sun Devils will then travel to California to face CSU Bakersfield and Pepperdine on March 17 and 18, respectively.
Keenan's squad home will return to the valley on March 23 for a midday (11 a.m. MST) tilt with Nebraska before flying to Fort Worth, Texas for the TCU Tournament on March 25-26.
The Sun Devils will stay on the road for a three week stretch starting March 31-April 1 at the Florida International 5th Annual Surf & Turf Invitational in Miami, Fla. Next they will have a two-week stint in Southern California, facing Pac-12 foe USC on April 7, playing in the USAV Challenge on April 8, and then playing in a double-header against Concordia and CSUN in Northridge, Calif. on April 14.
ASU will then wrap-up it's home slate hosting three matches at the PERA Club against New Mexico and the California Bears on April 21, and the Stanford Cardinal on April 22.
The team will conclude the 2017 season at the Pac-12 Championships, hosted by Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., set for Thursday, April 27. The NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships follow on May 5-7 in Gulf Shores, Ala.
2017 RETURNERS...
The Sun Devils return ten letter-winners in 2017, including the No. 1s duo of Bianca Arellano and Whitney Follettewho were named to the inaugural All-Pac-12 First Team at the culmination of the 2016 season.
NEWCOMERS...
The Sun Devils roster features a plethora of new faces in 2017. Newcomers include freshman Ellyson Lundberg(Larksupr, Calif.), freshman Katelyn Carballo (Laguna Beach, Calif.), freshman Kara Woodard (Phoenix, Ariz.), freshman Sage Patchell (Laguna Beach, Calif.), University of South Carolina transfer Katie Cross (Flagstaff, Ariz.), and indoor competitor Oluoma Okaro (Lakewood, Calif.).
The pair opened the event with a victory over Kwyn Johsnon and Mia Rivera, 21-14. They then notched a 21-10 victory over Frances Giedratis and Katie Cross, 23-21 in the scrimmage's semi-final.
An exciting afternoon of play culminated in a finals matchup of Arellano/Follette and Cassidy Pickrell/Katelyn Carballo. The pair of Pickrell and Carballo advanced to the final with respective victories over Bethany Wedepohl and Sydney Palmer (22-20) as well as Oluoma Okaro and Madison Berridge (24-22).
Arellano and Follette ultimately earned the scrimmage title in a hard fought match, recording a 21-18 victory over Pickrell and Carballo.
First year Head Coach Brad Keenan pointed to the senior duo's familiarity and extensive playing time together as reasons for their continued success, "Playing together all last year was a big deal. I think they communicate well most of the time."
Keenan further explained his expectations for the team on the upcoming season, "Win. Win everything. One of my old coaches said serve and hit in. If you side out well and serve tough, I think we will be a tough team to beat."
Up next, the Sun Devils will officially kick off the 2017 campaign traveling down south to compete in the Arizona Invitational, Mar. 3-4. The Maroon and Gold will partake in three matches over the course of the two-day event, first taking on No. 5 Hawaii (12 p.m./MT) and then facing Jacksonville (4 p.m./MT) on Friday March 3. The will then return to action on Saturday March. 4, against rival Arizona at 11:00 a.m. MT with a Territorial Cup point at stake. The matchup will be broadcast live via Pac-12 Networks and Pac-12 Digital.
Quarterfinals:
Oluoma Okaro/Madison Berridge def. Ellyson Lundberg/Sage Patchell, 21-15
Whitney Follette/Bianca Arellano def. Kwyn Johnson/Mia Rivera, 21-14
Frances Giedraitis/Katie Cross def. Natalie Braun/Jourdan Parnell, 23-21
Cassidy Pickrell/Katelyn Carballo def. Bethany Wedepohl/Sydney Palmer, 22-20
Semifinals:
Whitney Follette/Bianca Arellano def. Frances Giedraitis/Katie Cross, 21-10
Cassidy Pickrell/Katelyn Carballo def. Oluoma Okaro/Madison Berridge, 24-22
Finals:
Whitney Follette/Bianca Arellano def. Cassidy Pickrell/Katelyn Carballo, 21-18
2017 SCHEDULE…
The Sun Devils will officially kick off the 2017 campaign Mar. 3-4, traveling south for the University of Arizona-hosted Arizona Invitational. Over the course of the two-day event the Maroon and Gold will square off with Hawaii, Jacksonville and rival Arizona.
On March 11-12, the Sun Devils will return home to host the program's annual Sun Devil Challenge at the PERA Club. Arizona State will play host to New Mexico, Texas A&M Kingsville, and Arizona.
The Sun Devils will then travel to California to face CSU Bakersfield and Pepperdine on March 17 and 18, respectively.
Keenan's squad home will return to the valley on March 23 for a midday (11 a.m. MST) tilt with Nebraska before flying to Fort Worth, Texas for the TCU Tournament on March 25-26.
The Sun Devils will stay on the road for a three week stretch starting March 31-April 1 at the Florida International 5th Annual Surf & Turf Invitational in Miami, Fla. Next they will have a two-week stint in Southern California, facing Pac-12 foe USC on April 7, playing in the USAV Challenge on April 8, and then playing in a double-header against Concordia and CSUN in Northridge, Calif. on April 14.
ASU will then wrap-up it's home slate hosting three matches at the PERA Club against New Mexico and the California Bears on April 21, and the Stanford Cardinal on April 22.
The team will conclude the 2017 season at the Pac-12 Championships, hosted by Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., set for Thursday, April 27. The NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships follow on May 5-7 in Gulf Shores, Ala.
| 2017 ASU Beach Volleyball Home Schedule | ||||
| Date | Time | Opponent | ||
| Saturday 2/25 | 3:00 PM | Maroon and Gold | ||
| Sun Devil Challenge 3/11-3/12 | ||||
| Saturday 3/11 | 5:00 PM | New Mexico vs. Texas A&M Kingsville | ||
| Saturday 3/11 | 7:00 PM | ASU vs. Arizona | ||
| Sunday 3/12 |
9:00 AM |
Arizona vs. Texas A&M Kingsville |
||
| Sunday 3/12 | 11:00 AM | ASU vs. New Mexico | ||
| Sunday 3/12 | 2:00 PM | Arizona vs. New Mexico | ||
| Saturday 3/12 | 4:00 PM | ASU vs. Texas A&M Kingsville | ||
| Thursday 3/23 |
3:00 PM |
ASU vs. Nebraska |
||
| Friday 4/21 | 11:00 AM | ASU vs. New Mexico | ||
| Friday 4/21 | 1:00 PM | New Mexico vs. Cal | ||
| Friday 4/21 | 3:00 PM | ASU vs. Cal | ||
| Saturday 4/22 | 3:00 PM | ASU vs. Stanford | ||
2017 RETURNERS...
The Sun Devils return ten letter-winners in 2017, including the No. 1s duo of Bianca Arellano and Whitney Follettewho were named to the inaugural All-Pac-12 First Team at the culmination of the 2016 season.
| Name | Record | Career |
| Bianca Arellano | 15-9 | 33-25 |
| Madison Berridge | 9-15 | 9-15 |
| Natalie Braun | 1-9 | 1-9 |
| Whitney Follette | 15-9 | 35-23 |
| Frances Giedraitis | 11-9 | 19-22 |
| Kwyn Johnson | 9-15 | 10-18 |
| Sydney Palmer | 8-13 | 15-24 |
| Jourdan Parnell | 13-11 | 13-11 |
| Mia Rivera | 10-14 | 10-18 |
| Bethany Wedepohl | 13-9 | 13-9 |
NEWCOMERS...
The Sun Devils roster features a plethora of new faces in 2017. Newcomers include freshman Ellyson Lundberg(Larksupr, Calif.), freshman Katelyn Carballo (Laguna Beach, Calif.), freshman Kara Woodard (Phoenix, Ariz.), freshman Sage Patchell (Laguna Beach, Calif.), University of South Carolina transfer Katie Cross (Flagstaff, Ariz.), and indoor competitor Oluoma Okaro (Lakewood, Calif.).