SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – In their opening match of the 2018 Puerto Rico Clásico, Sun Devil volleyball defeated Towson University, 3-0 (28-26, 27-25, 26-24), on Saturday night.
ASU (4-0) got off to a good start in the match, taking the first point off a kill by freshman Avital Jaloba. The Israeli was backed up by transfer Alyse Ford, who tied her career-high in kills with 11 on the night.
It was neck-and-neck all night long for the Sun Devils and Tigers, but Claire Kovensky proved to be the difference maker all night long, notching a game-high 13 kills. Kovensky's huge swings kept the Sun Devils ahead in the first set. ASU held a 14-12 lead halfway through, but Towson didn't give up and quickly knotted the score at 17.
Tied up at 26, Nicole Peterson stepped back to serve for ASU and recorded a huge service ace to bring the Sun Devils to set point. Shortly thereafter, Jaloba and Ivana Jeremic teamed up for an important block to take the first set for ASU and swing the momentum in their squad's direction.
Blocks were the name of the game in the second set as well, as Ford and Megan Beedie catapulted to put the Sun Devils to set point, 26-25. ASU rallied to score another and take the second set, just one more set win away from improving to 4-0 for the second-straight season.
Knotted at 12, 14, and then 21, ASU called a time out down one point, 22-21, to regroup and rally. The time out proved to calm the jitters for the Sun Devils, as they took the set by a final of 26-24 to secure a three-set sweep of Towson and preserve their undefeated start to the season.
The Sun Devils are back in action in San Juan Sunday morning at 9 a.m. AZ time against Xavier and 5 p.m. AZ time against Missouri. Fans can follow the action by following @SunDevilVB on Twitter.
ASU (4-0) got off to a good start in the match, taking the first point off a kill by freshman Avital Jaloba. The Israeli was backed up by transfer Alyse Ford, who tied her career-high in kills with 11 on the night.
S2 | Feed the beast ???
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) September 1, 2018
Ford notches another kill and the Sun Devils lead 10-9! pic.twitter.com/z4hbi1DTI3
It was neck-and-neck all night long for the Sun Devils and Tigers, but Claire Kovensky proved to be the difference maker all night long, notching a game-high 13 kills. Kovensky's huge swings kept the Sun Devils ahead in the first set. ASU held a 14-12 lead halfway through, but Towson didn't give up and quickly knotted the score at 17.
Tied up at 26, Nicole Peterson stepped back to serve for ASU and recorded a huge service ace to bring the Sun Devils to set point. Shortly thereafter, Jaloba and Ivana Jeremic teamed up for an important block to take the first set for ASU and swing the momentum in their squad's direction.
Blocks were the name of the game in the second set as well, as Ford and Megan Beedie catapulted to put the Sun Devils to set point, 26-25. ASU rallied to score another and take the second set, just one more set win away from improving to 4-0 for the second-straight season.
S2 | No first game jitters for Alyse Ford tonight ?????
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) September 1, 2018
She and Megan Beedie team up for this MASSIVE block to put the Sun Devils just one point away from taking a 2-0 set lead! pic.twitter.com/Jt7MePUO8X
Knotted at 12, 14, and then 21, ASU called a time out down one point, 22-21, to regroup and rally. The time out proved to calm the jitters for the Sun Devils, as they took the set by a final of 26-24 to secure a three-set sweep of Towson and preserve their undefeated start to the season.
The final point ?? pic.twitter.com/atgjN4qNWA
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) September 1, 2018
The Sun Devils are back in action in San Juan Sunday morning at 9 a.m. AZ time against Xavier and 5 p.m. AZ time against Missouri. Fans can follow the action by following @SunDevilVB on Twitter.