IRVING, Texas - The Sun Devil Beach Volleyball team is off to a scorching start, and it's thanks in no small part to the dynamic duo of junior Olivia McElroy and senior Kendall Whitmarsh. These two have been instrumental in Arizona State's impressive 4-0 opening, earning them the honor of being named the Big 12 Pair of the Week.
This accolade marks the fourth time Arizona State has snagged the Big 12 Pair of the Week title, adding to their growing list of achievements with eight weekly awards in the program's history. For Whitmarsh, it's a familiar accolade, her second time receiving this recognition, while McElroy celebrates her first.
Playing in the No. 5 spot, McElroy and Whitmarsh were pivotal in securing ranked victories over No. 5 TCU and No.
13 Grand Canyon, keeping their record spotless and propelling ASU to an undefeated team status. The Sun Devils dominated with three sweeps out of their four wins.
In a thrilling matchup against the defending national and Big 12 champs TCU, McElroy and Whitmarsh found themselves in a nail-biting three-set showdown. With the dual tied at 2-1 in favor of ASU, they clinched the victory with a decisive 15-10 win in the third set.
This triumph over No. 5 TCU marks only the second top-five win in the program's history.
Their prowess was on full display in the cross-town rivalry against No. 13 GCU, where they swept their court to secure the dual. They continued their dominant form with straight-set victories over both UC Davis and Colorado Mesa.
McElroy and Whitmarsh have set the bar high, and if their early-season performance is any indication, the Sun Devils are poised for an exciting season ahead.