Kendall Whitmarsh: Carving a legacy in the sand

TEMPE – Born into a lineage of volleyball royalty, Sun Devil Beach Volleyball's Kendall Whitmarsh has carried forward a legacy of volleyball talent that runs through the Whitmarsh family. However, during the 2025 season, the talented junior has stepped out of the shadows of her family's spotlight and is starting to build her own story.
 
The San Diego native has had a breakout season for the Sun Devils, accumulating a record of 18-11 this year. Whitmarsh caught fire toward the latter half of the schedule, including a dominant performance at the East vs. West Tournament, teaming with Tori Clement to beat No. 20 Florida International, No. 18 Georgia State, No. 12 LSU, and, to cap it off, a come-from-behind victory in three sets against No. 10 Texas.
 
Her performance at the East vs. West Tournament earned the talented Sun Devil some well-earned recognition. On March 26, she and Clement won Big 12 Pair of the Week alongside Clement.
 
"The Texas match was a huge turning point for us as a team and for me and my partner," Whitmarsh said. "I think that we found what works for us; we built our chemistry. We were able to pull out a win in the third set to get a point on the board for our team."
 
The duo was thrown together at the last minute prior to the team's first tournament in Hawai'i. However, they have since grown to be a dominant force.
 
"She [Clement] is just such an amazing partner. She has this energy that is contagious," Whitmarsh said. "It's been super special to build our connection this season."
 
Kendall's older sister, Jaden Whitmarsh, played beach volleyball for UCLA and was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team twice (2021, 2023).
 
"Jaden is definitely my inspiration," Kendall said. "It's really nice to have a big sister who led the way and did everything first, whether it was in volleyball, high school, or anything like that. It's nice to have that role model and example."

Jaden isn't the only Whitmarsh that has played volleyball. Kendall and Jaden's late father, Mike Whitmarsh, won a silver medal for the United States in the 1996 Olympics and was ranked No. 1 in the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) rankings in 2001.
 
Mike's passion for the game didn't just show up in the record books, it shaped the way his children approached the sport. Volleyball has always been a true part of the family's identity. Even after his passing in 2009, his presence remains a guiding force for Kendall and Jaden both on and off the court.
 
Mike Whitmarsh was a guiding force not only for his children but also for the beach volleyball world. 
 
"Her dad was someone that I watched when I was a kid. He signed a volleyball of mine," Araiza said. "And then all of the sudden I'm coaching his daughter."
 
That legacy is something Kendall doesn't take lightly.
 
"She understands what her dad meant to the sport," Araiza said. "And I think the reason why she and her sister are playing beach volleyball is because they get that—they respect that legacy."
 
"Beach volleyball in our family means more than you could ever know," Kendall said. "It runs deep, and it's super special that we can carry out his legacy through playing the sport that we all love."
 
Notwithstanding her family's legacy, the junior has shown an incredible drive and dedication to her craft to get to where she is today.
 
Whitmarsh saw some brief playing time in the 2024 campaign, competing in 10 dual matches and finishing with a record of 7-3. However, the San Diego native was not satisfied with the amount of playing time she received and spent countless hours in the offseason with her former club, improving her skills.
 
"[Kendall is] one of the hardest working individuals I've ever met," head coach Kristen Glattfelder said. "Her progress from last year to this year is 100 percent due to her drive and her work ethic."
 
Whitmarsh was recruited to the program during the COVID-19 pandemic by assistant coach Paul Araiza. The San Diego State alum, who was brand new to the program, targeted Whitmarsh as his first recruit to the Sand Devils.
 
"The important thing for me was finding players that we could develop and make better -  [players] that are just going to put their head down and work," Araiza said. "Kendall fit that to a tee. She [has been] super instrumental in building our program."

 
Whitmarsh was recruited to the program for her ability to be a solid defender and a very strong athlete. However, her improvement as an offensive weapon and development into a team leader has been the key to her breakout season.
 
A pivotal aspect of the program is the stringent conditioning program the team partakes in. According to her coaches, Whitmarsh has taken charge during these difficult times.
 
"The great thing about Kendall is she leads by example. She's one of the hardest working players on the team, but she also holds people accountable." Araiza said. "She has the ultimate respect of her teammates, her coaches and of players on other teams as well."
 
Kendall's athleticism has unlocked a new level in her offensive skillset this season, allowing her to play more "aggressive" than she has in the past.
 
"When she steps on the court, she's usually the most athletic person," Glattfelder said. "She is just so fast, and she makes you work really hard to finish a point. She's come so far with her attacking."
 
For Whitmarsh, the sky is the limit for her future time as a Sun Devil and as a potential beach volleyball professional.
 
Whitmarsh and the Sun Devils look to finish strong as they have two final home duals on Saturday, April 19, before the Big 12 Championships in Fort Worth, Texas from April 24-25.