TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State volleyball team (2-0) opened the 2017 season in the comforts of Wells Fargo Arena Friday, bringing out the brooms and sweeping both the Weber State Wildcats (0-1) and the North Dakota State Bison (0-2) in the first two games of the Sun Devil Classic.
"I'm pretty excited how the girls came out this morning," said head coach Sanja Tomasevic. "I think in the afternoon it was not as pretty but a lot of things were in play. It was the first time playing in front of our fans and the 942 Crew. Props to North Dakota State; they played some scrappy good volleyball, they kept the ball in play, I think rallies kept going long, which made our girls antsy. They wanted to put the ball down and they needed to be more patient but we talked about it throughout the whole match to stay patient and not fall into traps of making a mistake."
Led with double-doubles from senior Oluoma Okaro and sophomore Ivana Jeremic, the Sun Devils swept Weber State 25-18, 25-18, 25-19 for their first win of the season. Okaro recorded 13 kills and a career high 15 digs while Jeremic added 14 kills and 11 digs. The pair also combined for a total five solo blocks.
The freshmen also had outstanding debuts for the maroon and gold, with outside hitter Griere Hughes putting up 12 kills of her own and setter Shelbie Dobmeier leading the team with 45 assists.
"I think Shelbie (Dobmeier) did an amazing job running offense today; with 45 assists in first match and 35 in the second match, I don't know I am not good at math. I don't know what that average is but it sounds pretty good to me."
For the Wildcats, Amanda Varley had 14 kills to lead her squad. The sweep against the Wildcats constitutes Tomasevic's first career win as a head coach.
In the second match against the Bison (25-16, 28-26, 25-16), Dobmeier shined again and recorded her first career double-double with 35 assists and 11 digs. Okaro led the Sun Devils with 17 kills for 30 total on the day.
Senior Halle Harker contributed a team-best 22 digs and an additional 14 in the first match, improving her collegiate career total to 1,439. The mark moves her into fifth all-time in program history, tied with Sarah Johnson. She is 89 digs away from moving up to No. 4 all-time at ASU.
For the Bison, Erika Gelzinyte led the way with 10 kills while the Sun Devils held them to just .047 attacking.
Up next, the Sun Devils wrap up the tournament weekend against Boise State (1-0) Saturday at 5 p.m. in Wells Fargo Arena. The match will be livestreamed on TheSunDevils.com. Prior to the match, the Sun Devil Classic will host neutral matches with Boise State taking on Weber State at 10 a.m. before Weber State takes on NDSU at 2 p.m.
Match Notes – Weber State
Kills: Jeremic (14), Okaro (13), Hughes (12)*
Assists: Dobmeier (45)*
Digs: Okaro (15), Harker (14), Leffel (12), Jeremic (11)
Solo Blocks: Jeremic (3), Okaro (2)
Double-Doubles: Okaro (1st, 13 kills and 15 digs), Jeremic (1st, 14 kills and 11 digs)
*Career high
Match Notes – NDSU
Kills: Okaro (17)
Assists: Dobmeier (35)
Digs: Harker (22), Jeremic (11), Dobmeier (11), Leffel (10)
Double-Double: Dobmeier (1st, 35 assists and 11 digs)
Top-10 Career Digs At ASU
1. Sydney Donahue, 2004-07—2385**
2. Stephanie Preach, 2010-13—2010
3. Christy Nore, 1985-88—1597
4. Jami Coughlin, 1998-01—1528
5. Halle Harker, 2014-present—1439
5. Sarah Johnson, 2007-10—1439
7. Terri Cox, 1994-97—1382
8. Mindy Gowell, 1987-91—1365
9. Leanne Schuster, 1991-94—1284
10. Christine Garner, 1992-95—1253
** Pac-12 Record
"I'm pretty excited how the girls came out this morning," said head coach Sanja Tomasevic. "I think in the afternoon it was not as pretty but a lot of things were in play. It was the first time playing in front of our fans and the 942 Crew. Props to North Dakota State; they played some scrappy good volleyball, they kept the ball in play, I think rallies kept going long, which made our girls antsy. They wanted to put the ball down and they needed to be more patient but we talked about it throughout the whole match to stay patient and not fall into traps of making a mistake."
Led with double-doubles from senior Oluoma Okaro and sophomore Ivana Jeremic, the Sun Devils swept Weber State 25-18, 25-18, 25-19 for their first win of the season. Okaro recorded 13 kills and a career high 15 digs while Jeremic added 14 kills and 11 digs. The pair also combined for a total five solo blocks.
The freshmen also had outstanding debuts for the maroon and gold, with outside hitter Griere Hughes putting up 12 kills of her own and setter Shelbie Dobmeier leading the team with 45 assists.
"I think Shelbie (Dobmeier) did an amazing job running offense today; with 45 assists in first match and 35 in the second match, I don't know I am not good at math. I don't know what that average is but it sounds pretty good to me."
For the Wildcats, Amanda Varley had 14 kills to lead her squad. The sweep against the Wildcats constitutes Tomasevic's first career win as a head coach.
In the second match against the Bison (25-16, 28-26, 25-16), Dobmeier shined again and recorded her first career double-double with 35 assists and 11 digs. Okaro led the Sun Devils with 17 kills for 30 total on the day.
Senior Halle Harker contributed a team-best 22 digs and an additional 14 in the first match, improving her collegiate career total to 1,439. The mark moves her into fifth all-time in program history, tied with Sarah Johnson. She is 89 digs away from moving up to No. 4 all-time at ASU.
For the Bison, Erika Gelzinyte led the way with 10 kills while the Sun Devils held them to just .047 attacking.
Up next, the Sun Devils wrap up the tournament weekend against Boise State (1-0) Saturday at 5 p.m. in Wells Fargo Arena. The match will be livestreamed on TheSunDevils.com. Prior to the match, the Sun Devil Classic will host neutral matches with Boise State taking on Weber State at 10 a.m. before Weber State takes on NDSU at 2 p.m.
Match Notes – Weber State
Kills: Jeremic (14), Okaro (13), Hughes (12)*
Assists: Dobmeier (45)*
Digs: Okaro (15), Harker (14), Leffel (12), Jeremic (11)
Solo Blocks: Jeremic (3), Okaro (2)
Double-Doubles: Okaro (1st, 13 kills and 15 digs), Jeremic (1st, 14 kills and 11 digs)
*Career high
Match Notes – NDSU
Kills: Okaro (17)
Assists: Dobmeier (35)
Digs: Harker (22), Jeremic (11), Dobmeier (11), Leffel (10)
Double-Double: Dobmeier (1st, 35 assists and 11 digs)
Top-10 Career Digs At ASU
1. Sydney Donahue, 2004-07—2385**
2. Stephanie Preach, 2010-13—2010
3. Christy Nore, 1985-88—1597
4. Jami Coughlin, 1998-01—1528
5. Halle Harker, 2014-present—1439
5. Sarah Johnson, 2007-10—1439
7. Terri Cox, 1994-97—1382
8. Mindy Gowell, 1987-91—1365
9. Leanne Schuster, 1991-94—1284
10. Christine Garner, 1992-95—1253
** Pac-12 Record