Each donning ASU volleyball jerseys for three consecutive years, an indoor setter and a middle blocker join together for the first time as ASU’s top beach volleyball pair.
The duo, seniors Bianca Arellano and Whitney Follette, currently hold a 7-3 record. Both originally indoor players, each boasts impressive statistics.
Last beach volleyball season, Follette and her partner, sophomore Halle Harker, left the Pac-12 Tournament without a single loss. Her indoor skills and accomplishments play into the sand game; on the court, Follette is just the fourth Sun Devil to have 400 career blocks.
Meanwhile, Arellano originally attended the University of Tennessee, but transferred to ASU in the second semester of her freshman year. Since then, she has qualified for the NCAA tournament each year of her indoor career and climbed to ASU’s No. 5 slot for total career assists. During her three years on the sand, she never settled for anything less than first seed.
With the introduction of the NCAA beach volleyball program back in 2014, ASU’s indoor players tested out the sand.
“At first, we were just a bunch of indoor athletes trying to learn the game and use our indoor techniques to win games, but now we have developed with beach coaches and beach strategy implemented in our brains,” Arellano said.
As a setter, Arellano questioned her decision prior to committing to sand.
“I was a bit skeptical about how the beach game would interfere with my indoor skills as a setter, because on the sand, hand setting is not very prevalent," Arellano said. "Although I improved at other skills like passing and hitting, I did not think I needed that for indoor."
With this in mind, Arellano sought for a partner who could excel in areas she lacked.
“When we were trying to choose partners, I needed a bigger block so I could play defense behind, and when there’s shots I know that I can’t get to, my blocker can get to,” Arellano said.
Ultimately, the individual skills of Arellano and Follette came together, leading the two to make their debut this season.
“(Arellano’s) sick at defense and digging balls,” Follette said. “Since I’ve blocked my whole life and I’m really tall, I have an advantage at that. By having the two of us on defense, those two skills really complement each other for us.”
While complementary skills are necessary, Arellano feels the pair shows a natural chemistry during play.
“It’s really easy setting her and connecting and talking to each other,” Arellano said. “I feel comfortable telling her, ‘My set needs to be here, or here.’”
Having played indoor together for three years and now as a pair on the sand, the two can nearly anticipate each other’s moves.
“You’re involved in every single play and you’re tired, but at the same time, it’s a pro because you just have to focus on one other person and can build a relationship with them on the court,” Follette said. “The better you know them the better you can play with them.”
With 10 games completed, they even predict their opponent’s moves. Due to Arellano’s small frame, she receives a majority of the serves, forcing Follette to test her setting skills.
“I think I need to work on setting for sure,” Follette said. “I’m not used to it and it’s a little bit different because you’re setting with a platform, not your hands. I need to be on task with my setting, otherwise, we’ll never slide out.”
Though small, Arellano is the more vocal of the two on the court.
“I bring the loud, cheering, sometimes obnoxious energy, and Whitney is there to calm me down and keep me sane,” Arellano said.
As ASU’s top team, the pair typically faces the best of their opponent. However, they keep the pressure to win under control.
“Once we get onto the court, all our games are exclusive to each other,” Arellano said. “We’ll play a team and maybe they’re the other team’s best players, but we look at it as, ‘We need to get this one point for our team because they’re all worth the same amount.’”
Aside from carrying the first seed title, their competitive demeanor and poise on the court sets them apart from other ASU pairs, Arellano said.
“Whitney and I try to keep our attitudes as positive and relaxed as possible,” she said. “Sure, we will get emotional highs and lows during crucial points in a game, but we are complete goofballs off the court.”
ASU beach volleyball interim coach Jacquelyn Bunker said she admires the pair’s willingness to face any opponent, attributing this quality to their Pac-12 experience.
“What I love about them is their ability to compete,” Bunker said. “They never back down from any team and they always want to get better so we never have any trouble with them as far as wanting to be challenged. They usually find a way to win.”
Related links:
ASU beach volleyball showcases talent at Maroon and Gold Scrimmage
ASU beach volleyball sweeps Loyola Marymount, swept by USC
Reach the reporter at ncorr@asu.edu or follow @natalieorr19 on Twitter.
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