TEMPE – As the start of the season draws near, the energy at Arizona State’s beach volleyball practice is at an all-time high. With players and coaches navigating the chaos of five courts, head coach Kristen Glattfelder feels the intensity building for the upcoming season.
In her second year as ASU’s head coach, Glattfelder has proven herself as a master multitasker, offering feedback on every court simultaneously, as if she had five sets of eyes. It’s this level of attention and determination that has helped turn the program around. She inherited a team that had been underperforming and transformed it into a playoff contender in just one season.
Now, Glattfelder leads the Sun Devils into the new season, which kicks off Thursday at the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Classic in Hawaii. The competition will be tough, with six teams that were ranked in the top 10 last year, including the reigning champion USC Trojans.
“You have to play the best to be the best,” Glattfelder said. “This will show us where we’re at and what areas we need to improve. We have to be mentally tough and ready to handle both the highs and the lows. Sometimes, we’ll need to accept failure to learn from it.”
After the best season in program history, the pressure is on to continue improving. Last year, ASU made its first NCAA Championship appearance, though they were knocked out in the first round. Glattfelder is determined to prove that last season wasn’t a fluke but just the beginning.
“We want to make more noise this season and compete for a national championship,” Glattfelder said. “We have a chip on our shoulder now and want to prove ourselves in the tournament.”
In her first season at ASU, Glattfelder led the team to a 21-win record, the most in school history, and a playoff berth. The Sun Devils also achieved 11 wins over ranked teams—more than they had in their entire history before that.
A former Division I and professional beach volleyball player, Glattfelder was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year in her first season. She previously spent eight years at Grand Canyon University, where she helped lead her teams to seven top rankings and produced players like future pro Molly Turner.
When the opportunity arose to coach at ASU, Glattfelder couldn’t pass it up. She was drawn to the strong support and the chance to build something special.
“When you have a team that’s committed, willing to work hard, and wants to be part of something bigger, it just works,” she said.
Beach volleyball is a game of duos, with five pairs competing at once. Unlike indoor volleyball, where each player has a set position, beach volleyball players must be versatile and adapt to different roles. With a roster of 20 players, there are 190 possible pairings, making it crucial to find the right combinations. Glattfelder excels at fostering team chemistry and making those pairings work.
“A pair could look great on paper, but once they’re together, it might not click,” she said. “It’s about seeing the bigger picture and creating five solid duos that work well together.”
Senior Anya Pemberton and junior Daniella Kensinger are one of the key pairings for ASU. The duo started last season strong, helping the Sun Devils to their first 4-0 start. Kensinger, who grew up near Manhattan Beach, Calif.—the “mecca” of beach volleyball—was named ASU’s first All-American and earned Pac-12 First Team honors after transferring from Saint Mary’s.
“Kristen believes in all of us,” said Kensinger. “She understands the depth of our team and knows that everyone has the potential to make a huge impact.”
Pemberton, who struggled two years ago with a 4-15 record, experienced a turnaround under Glattfelder. Last season, she finished 17-12, including a standout win over No. 2 Utah.
“When Kristen came in, the culture of practice became much more competitive,” Pemberton said. “Last season, I felt mentally more prepared and calmer, and for me, staying calm is key.”
Glattfelder’s support and leadership helped ASU achieve its best record in program history, and as the new season approaches, optimism is high.
“We bring a lot of competitive energy, and that starts in practice,” Kensinger said. “We have so much talent, and we’ve built a culture that will make this season stand out even more than last year.”
Related topics：