The sun was shining bright on Manhattan Beach as the No. 8 Sun Devil Beach Volleyball team showcased their grit at the East Meets West Invitational.
Despite a tough loss to No. 9 LMU, they bounced back with a commanding win over No.
13 Hawai’i, proving their mettle against ranked opponents.
Arizona State, now boasting an impressive 11-3 record, has secured six victories over ranked teams this season. Under the strategic guidance of head coach Kristen Glattfelder, the Sun Devils have racked up 22 ranked wins over the past three years, a testament to their growing prowess on the sand.
Leading the charge was the dynamic duo of senior McKenna Flaherty and junior Kristin Gilmour. They wrapped up the weekend with a stellar 3-1 record, maintaining their status as the team’s top-performing pair at 11-1. Flaherty, with an individual record of 13-1, has become the winningest Sand Devil this season, while Gilmour is closing in on a milestone, just one win shy of 50 career victories.
Another standout pair, senior Arden Besecker and Zoë Taylor, made waves by sweeping their matches. Usually holding down court three, they elevated their game against Hawai’i, moving up to court two and dominating with a decisive 21-9 second set victory. Their record now stands at an impressive 12-2 for the year.
In their first matchup of the day, the Sun Devils faced a formidable opponent in the Lions, who hold a 12-2 record. Flaherty and Gilmour secured a crucial three-set win, but LMU clinched the dual with victories on courts one and five. Besecker and Taylor’s sweep on court three kept the scoreline respectable at 3-2.
Against the Rainbow Warriors, Arizona State came out swinging, quickly establishing a 2-0 lead. Besecker and Taylor shone brightly on court two, while Flaherty and Gilmour wrapped up their weekend with another victory on court four. Although Hawai’i managed a win on court five, the Sun Devils held their ground in the remaining matches, both going to three sets, ultimately securing a 4-1 dual win.
With their sights set on the future, the Sun Devils continue to build momentum, blending skill and strategy with a tenacity that’s hard to beat. Their performance at the Invitational is a clear signal to the rest of the league: Arizona State is a force to be reckoned with.