Spectacular sports: More about the histories of these on-campus teams at ASU
Do you want to learn a little more about the stellar sports our Sun Devils play in the spring? Below, we’ve included quick info and rules for some of our favorites.
Beach volleyball
Unlike indoor volleyball, Sun Devil beach volleyball players have to be utility players. The sport is played in pairs, in a two vs. two setup full of serving, digging and blocking. These pair matches are played by 10 student-athletes,, who win best-of-three sets to score their school points overall.
Scoring in beach volleyball also differs from its indoor counterpart. Each dual is “won by the team that wins two sets,” according to the NCAA. The first pair to 21 points is the set winner and must win by at least two points.
These pairs play the match all the way through, without any substitutions. Each of these pair matches is key to which college will come out on top.
The Sun Devil Beach Volleyball team, affectionately known as the Sand Devils, brings the heat to every game. The program first started in 2014 and, according to their site, was “part of the inaugural NCAA bean season in 2016.” In 2019, the Sand Devils boasted a strong 21-win program record.
Rain or shine, the team suits up and hits the sand. Even when they aren’t actively playing, players stand on the sidelines and cheer as loudly as possible.
To check in with the Sand Devils schedule, click here.
Baseball and softball
Baseball and softball have a long history in the sports world, but they have undergone a lot of big changes lately. When you envision baseball or softball games, most people think of the beating sun and sweat, sitting on hot bleachers and watching kids chase after every foul ball. You may have been holding a frozen lemonade or aluminum-wrapped hot dog.
The central structure of both sports is the goal of scoring more points than your opponent, achieved by touching all four bases without being tagged out.
Collegiate baseball has nine innings, while softball has seven. In baseball, the field is larger and the ball itself is white. Opposingly, softball plays with a larger, neon-yellow ball and a more condensed field. Pitchers in baseball sling the ball overhand, while softball pitchers wind up and throw underhand pitches.
Batters approach the plate intending to hit the ball somewhere within the field which will prevent the other team from getting them out. Each team gets the chance to score points every inning, as well as the task of defending the field. Once on base, players can steal bases if given the opportunity. Then, it is the role of the catcher, the player squatting behind home plate, to try and throw them out.
Sun Devil Baseball and Sun Devil Softball are entertaining to watch, whether it be the heated cheering in the dugouts or crazy plays made on the field. If you are lucky, you might also witness some stellar home runs and celebratory chants.
Sun Devil Baseball has championed more than 100 Major League players in their collegiate years and has won five national championships. They play at the Phoenix Municipal Stadium, a partnership facility developed by both ASU and the City of Phoenix in 2015.
Sun Devil Softball started in 1971 and, in that time, has won four national titles. Since 2000, the team has made its home at the Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium, where fans funnel into the stands every week.
To attend a Sun Devil Baseball game, check their schedule here. To see Sun Devil Softball live, see their upcoming home games here.
Tennis
Tennis has a deep history at ASU, both for the women’s and men’s teams. The Sun Devil women’s tennis program is renowned for its athletic and academic prowess. After a ten-year hiatus, the Sun Devil men’s tennis program made its return to campus in 2018.
Tennis mostly consists of serving and rallying back and forth over a low-level net, all while trying to keep the ball within court limits. For every point, a player is allowed two serves. Players must hit the ball before it bounces or on the first bounce, otherwise their opponent is awarded the point.
Scoring in tennis is as follows: Zero points is called ‘love,’ the first point is 15, the second point is 30, the third point is 40 and the fourth point is the game. To win a set, players must beat their opponent by a two-game difference. To win the whole match, a player or team must win three sets.
According to the stats page, the Sun Devil women’s tennis program has always exceeded academically, “recognized for recording an Annual Progress Rate (APR) that ranked in the top-10 percent nationally” in 2015. They have also made 28 consecutive NCAA postseason appearances, “the longest active streak in Sun Devil Athletics.”
Men’s tennis has made 20 postseason appearances and was once home to 17 All-Americans. In their recently revived state on campus, the team has the passion to make their mark on college tennis moving forward.
To check out upcoming matches for the Sun Devil women’s tennis program, click here. To see the schedule for the Sun Devil men’s tennis program, check this link.
While the more traditional sports on campus are wildly entertaining, so are the less-known spring sports. We encourage you to get out there and watch something new this season. Who knows? Maybe you’ll discover some new favorites, just like we have!