Arizona beach volleyball returns to the desert again this weekend after being on the road for the past three weeks. The team hosts its third home tournament of the season, the Wildcat Spring Challenge, against No. 17 Stetson, ASU, Colorado Mesa and No. 14 Cal.
After splitting the past 12 games on the road (6-6), the SandCats look to make the most of their home court advantage when they play against such competitive programs.
“It feels nice to finally be back and playing at home. It’s different playing on the road,” said senior Kacey Nady.
They kick off their weekend against No. 17 Stetson on April 6 at 2:30 p.m. So far, the Hatters are 20-6 on the season, and they have won their past nine games. They traveled to DeLand, Florida this weekend where they shut out Florida Gulf Coast in a 2-0 series win.
Following their first game against Stetson, the ‘Cats will square off against state rivals ASU later that day at 6 p.m. The Sun Devils are 8-10 on the season, but five of those wins have come from their past five games. ASU went 1-3 in the Pac-12 South Invitational, beating out Washington by a score of 4-1.
“It’s important to look at every team equally and not get caught up in the rankings,” said Nady about this weekend’s match against unranked ASU. “I saw them play in the Pac-12 South Invitational, and they really did show up.”
On Saturday, the Wildcats will start out the day by playing Colorado Mesa. So far, the Mavericks are 3-11 on the season, and they are coming off two big 5-0 losses against Arizona State from this past weekend in the New Mexico Beach Tournament in Albuquerque.
The Wildcats will close out the Wildcat Spring Challenge by playing against No. 14 Cal. The Bears are 14-3 on the season so far, and they recently beat No. 17 Arizona in the final game of the Pac-12 South Invitational 4-1. They swept the University of San Francisco this past weekend at home in Berkeley, California 5-0.
Arizona beach volleyball will look to go 16-8 on the season after hosting the Wildcat Spring Challenge at home in Bear Down Beach in Tucson.
Pac-12 Networks will broadcast the SandCats’ home games this weekend starting Friday at 2:30 p.m. against the Stetson Hatters.
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