Sun Devil Beach Volleyball Gears Up for Cactus Classic Showdown
The No. 9 ranked Sun Devil Beach Volleyball team is set to heat up the sand in the Cactus Classic this Friday, hosted by Arizona. They'll face off against No.
19 Georgia State and their in-state rivals, No. 20 Arizona.
Kicking off the action at 9 a.m. MST, the Sand Devils will take on Georgia State, followed by the much-anticipated rivalry match against Arizona at 12:45 p.m.
MST. Fans can catch live scoring and updates on X (@SunDevilBeachVB) and Instagram (@sundevilbeachvb).
The Sun Devils are riding high after an impressive start to the 2026 season, boasting a flawless four-win weekend. This included three sweeps and two victories over ranked teams, No.
5 TCU and No. 13 Grand Canyon.
Their win against TCU was particularly notable, marking the defending national champions' first loss and the second top-five victory in the program's history.
Highlighting the team's success, McElroy and Whitmarsh have been named the Big 12 Pair of the Week. Competing at the No. 5 spot, they were instrumental in securing the ranked wins, sweeping three of their four matches.
Under the guidance of Coach Glattfelder, this is the second time Arizona State has opened a season 4-0, mirroring their 2024 start when they went on a six-game win streak. Currently, the Sun Devils hold the highest ranking in program history at No. 9 in the AVCA Coaches Poll, maintaining a presence in every poll since 2024.
Ava Kirunchyk and Samaya Morin (No. 1 court), Arden Besecker and Zoe Taylor (No. 3 court), McKenna Flaherty and Kristin Gilmour (No. 4 court), and Kendall Whitmarsh and Olivia McElroy (No. 5 court) all went undefeated over the weekend, showcasing the depth and talent of the squad.
The Sand Devils have a strong track record against their upcoming opponents. Under Glattfelder, they're 2-0 against Georgia State and 5-1 against Arizona. When facing teams ranked in the top 20 but outside the top 10, they boast a 16-3 record.
Georgia State also had a strong start to their 2026 season, going 4-1 at the FSU Unconquered Invitational, including two sweeps. Last year, they finished ranked No. 17, with a 22-17 record, but fell to TCU in the NCAA Championship's first round. Historically, the Sun Devils and Georgia State are tied 2-2, but Arizona State has claimed the last two encounters.
The Wildcats began their 2026 campaign with a 3-1 performance at the Canyon Classic, including a win over No. 13 GCU, with their only loss to No.
5 TCU. In 2025, Arizona went 18-12, but ASU bested them three times.
Despite Arizona holding a 14-10 all-time record over the Sun Devils, Arizona State has dominated recent matchups, winning the last seven straight.
As the Sand Devils prepare for the Cactus Classic, fans can expect intense matches and a display of top-tier beach volleyball. Arizona State is determined to continue their winning streak and solidify their status as a powerhouse in the sport.