Tempe, Ariz. – Sun Devil fans will be provided their first opportunity to catch the No. 12 Arizona State beach volleyball team (2-1, 1-0 Pac-12) in action, this coming weekend, as the Maroon and Gold are set to host the Sun Devil Challenge featuring visiting No. 6 Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas A&M Kingsville, Mar. 11-12 at the PERA Club.
The PERA Club is located at 1 E. Continental Drive, just five minutes away from ASU's Tempe Campus. Admission is free and fans are encouraged to bring their own chairs.
On Saturday, Arizona State will play host to rival Arizona at 7 p.m. MST, a week removed from upsetting the No. 8 Wildcats 3-2 in Tucson. The respective teams will look to secure the second half of a pivotal Territorial Cup point, after the Sun Devils earned the initial half by virtue of their opening weekend victory.
The following afternoon, the Sun Devils will take on New Mexico at 11 a.m MT., before rounding out the tournament with a 4 p.m. MT tilt with Texas A&M Kingsville.
Saturday's Territorial Cup matchup is Arizona State's Top Gun Night, and fans are encouraged to break out their aviators and join the Sun Devils for an evening of Top Gun music, trivia and more.
Scouting the Opposition…
No. 8 Arizona (1-2; 0-1 Pac-12):
Posting a 20-7 won/loss record in 2016, the Wildcats notched their best season in program history. Spearheaded by the then junior duo of Madison and McKenna Witt who accumulated a record of 26-4, the Wildcats tied for fifth at the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships.
Led by Chris Walker, who is in his third at the helm, the Wildcats return eight letter-winners in 2017.
In Arizona State's first meeting of the season with Arizona, held in Tucson on Sat., Mar. 4. the Sun Devils recorded a 3-2 upset of No. 6 Arizona. The victory marked Arizona State's first win over a top-10 program in the team's four-year history and came just three matches into first-year head coach Brad Keenan's tenure. The win also represented Arizona State's first victory over rival Arizona since 2014.
New Mexico (2-3):
Checking in at No. 18 in Dig Magazine's preseason collegiate volleyball poll, the Lobos return seven starters from the team's 17-9, 2016 squad. The team boasts a veteran roster that features five seniors and three juniors.
Last time out, the No. 18 Lobos accumulated a 2-3 record over three days of completion in Phoenix, Arizona (Mar. 2-4) garnering victories over Benedictine and Colorado Mesa, while dropping matches to Loyola Marymount, Grand Canyon, and Texas Christian.
Texas A&M Kingsville (4-0):
Competing in their inaugural season, Texas A&M Kingsville is coached by Tanya Allen.
The Javelina hold a 4-0 won/loss record on the season with victories over Stevenson, Principia, and Missouri Baptist respectively.
Projected Sun Devil Pairings…
Sun Devils Crack AVCA Collegiate Volleyball Poll…
For the first time in program history, the Arizona State beach volleyball team attained nationally-ranked status, checking in at No. 12 in the AVCA collegiate beach volleyball week one poll, Monday afternoon.
The Sun Devils are now one of five teams in the Pac-12 conference ranked within the AVCA Top-15. Other ranked league members include Southern California (No. 1), UCLA (No. 4), Arizona (No. 8), and Stanford (No. 14).
Arizona State earned the designation after coming off an exceptional opening weekend that saw the Sun Devils garner a 2-1 record and a 3-2 upset win over No. 6 Arizona, at the Arizona Invitational. The victory marked Arizona State's first win over a top-10 program in the team's four-year history and came just three matches into first-year head coach Brad Keenan's tenure. The win also represented Arizona State's first victory over Arizona since 2014.
2017 SCHEDULE…
The Sun Devils will 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.
THE PERA CLUB...
PERA, which stands for Project Employees Recreation Association is a private club for the employees and families of the Salt River Project.
The 83-acre club houses a social center, employee store, fitness center, swimming pool, game courts, and fields and offers children's programs, fitness classes, business meetings, sports leagues, and parties.
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 Follette who 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.).
The PERA Club is located at 1 E. Continental Drive, just five minutes away from ASU's Tempe Campus. Admission is free and fans are encouraged to bring their own chairs.
On Saturday, Arizona State will play host to rival Arizona at 7 p.m. MST, a week removed from upsetting the No. 8 Wildcats 3-2 in Tucson. The respective teams will look to secure the second half of a pivotal Territorial Cup point, after the Sun Devils earned the initial half by virtue of their opening weekend victory.
The following afternoon, the Sun Devils will take on New Mexico at 11 a.m MT., before rounding out the tournament with a 4 p.m. MT tilt with Texas A&M Kingsville.
Saturday's Territorial Cup matchup is Arizona State's Top Gun Night, and fans are encouraged to break out their aviators and join the Sun Devils for an evening of Top Gun music, trivia and more.
Scouting the Opposition…
No. 8 Arizona (1-2; 0-1 Pac-12):
Posting a 20-7 won/loss record in 2016, the Wildcats notched their best season in program history. Spearheaded by the then junior duo of Madison and McKenna Witt who accumulated a record of 26-4, the Wildcats tied for fifth at the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships.
Led by Chris Walker, who is in his third at the helm, the Wildcats return eight letter-winners in 2017.
In Arizona State's first meeting of the season with Arizona, held in Tucson on Sat., Mar. 4. the Sun Devils recorded a 3-2 upset of No. 6 Arizona. The victory marked Arizona State's first win over a top-10 program in the team's four-year history and came just three matches into first-year head coach Brad Keenan's tenure. The win also represented Arizona State's first victory over rival Arizona since 2014.
New Mexico (2-3):
Checking in at No. 18 in Dig Magazine's preseason collegiate volleyball poll, the Lobos return seven starters from the team's 17-9, 2016 squad. The team boasts a veteran roster that features five seniors and three juniors.
Last time out, the No. 18 Lobos accumulated a 2-3 record over three days of completion in Phoenix, Arizona (Mar. 2-4) garnering victories over Benedictine and Colorado Mesa, while dropping matches to Loyola Marymount, Grand Canyon, and Texas Christian.
Texas A&M Kingsville (4-0):
Competing in their inaugural season, Texas A&M Kingsville is coached by Tanya Allen.
The Javelina hold a 4-0 won/loss record on the season with victories over Stevenson, Principia, and Missouri Baptist respectively.
Projected Sun Devil Pairings…
- Bianca Arellano/Whitney Follette (2-1)
- Madison Berridge/Oluoma Okaro (2-1)
- Cassidy Pickrell/Katelyn Carballo (1-2)
- Katie Cross/Frances Giedraitis (1-2)
- Sydney Palmer/Bethany Wedepohl (1-0)
Sun Devils Crack AVCA Collegiate Volleyball Poll…
For the first time in program history, the Arizona State beach volleyball team attained nationally-ranked status, checking in at No. 12 in the AVCA collegiate beach volleyball week one poll, Monday afternoon.
The Sun Devils are now one of five teams in the Pac-12 conference ranked within the AVCA Top-15. Other ranked league members include Southern California (No. 1), UCLA (No. 4), Arizona (No. 8), and Stanford (No. 14).
Arizona State earned the designation after coming off an exceptional opening weekend that saw the Sun Devils garner a 2-1 record and a 3-2 upset win over No. 6 Arizona, at the Arizona Invitational. The victory marked Arizona State's first win over a top-10 program in the team's four-year history and came just three matches into first-year head coach Brad Keenan's tenure. The win also represented Arizona State's first victory over Arizona since 2014.
2017 SCHEDULE…
The Sun Devils will 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.
THE PERA CLUB...
PERA, which stands for Project Employees Recreation Association is a private club for the employees and families of the Salt River Project.
The 83-acre club houses a social center, employee store, fitness center, swimming pool, game courts, and fields and offers children's programs, fitness classes, business meetings, sports leagues, and parties.
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 Follette who 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.).