TEMPE, Ariz. – In the final match of the season, Arizona State volleyball fell in straight sets to No. 23 Arizona in Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday night.
"Not the way we wanted our season to end, but Arizona played a really good match," Arizona State head coach Sanja Tomasevic said. "I'm proud of the girls and how they have improved this season. Our team knows everything that they need to do in a match, now they just need to do it. I'm excited to see what we can do next year."
Arizona State finishes the season at 14-18, 5-15 Pac-12. After a rough 2017 season, the Sun Devils improved immensely, earning four more wins in the season total and five more in conference play. This has been the biggest improvement from season to season for an ASU team since 2012 when the nine 2011 wins jumped to 20.
Senior Alyse Ford finished her career at Arizona State on an eight-matches double-digit kills streak after notching 12 tonight to lead all players. Courtney Leffel led the defense with 12 digs, her fifth match in a row with double-digit digs. Callie Jones had a team-high 17 assists.
The Wildcats (22-10, 11-9 Pac-12) started the match strong, dominating the first set. A few kills from Ford put ASU up 3-2 early, but it was all Arizona after that. An 11-1 run put the set far out of place for the Sun Devils as they fell 25-12.
The second set was closer, but the Wildcats still controlled the momentum. An early 5-0 run for the visitors put them up 7-2 and they never looked back. The Sun Devils saw a spark later in the set. They went on a 4-1 run to cut into the deficit, making it 21-16 after a dig from Halle Johnson turned into a kill, surprising the Arizona defense. Ultimately, the Wildcats took the set, 25-17, taking a 2-0 advantage in the match.
Arizona State came out a new team in the third set. The two teams traded points for the first part of the set. An ace from Ivana Jeremic put ASU up 12-11, but Arizona followed that up with three in a row to take a two-point lead. The Sun Devils kept it close, either trailing by one or tying the set, until the Wildcats got up by two again, 22-20. A few kills from Claire Kovensky kept hopes alive, but Arizona closed the door, winning 25-23 and completing the sweep.
Prior to the match, the three seniors, Ford, Peyton Grahovac and Carmen Unzue, were honored.
"Not the way we wanted our season to end, but Arizona played a really good match," Arizona State head coach Sanja Tomasevic said. "I'm proud of the girls and how they have improved this season. Our team knows everything that they need to do in a match, now they just need to do it. I'm excited to see what we can do next year."
Arizona State finishes the season at 14-18, 5-15 Pac-12. After a rough 2017 season, the Sun Devils improved immensely, earning four more wins in the season total and five more in conference play. This has been the biggest improvement from season to season for an ASU team since 2012 when the nine 2011 wins jumped to 20.
Senior Alyse Ford finished her career at Arizona State on an eight-matches double-digit kills streak after notching 12 tonight to lead all players. Courtney Leffel led the defense with 12 digs, her fifth match in a row with double-digit digs. Callie Jones had a team-high 17 assists.
Win together, lose together, teammates. #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/9KdQmYOOF8
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) November 25, 2018
The Wildcats (22-10, 11-9 Pac-12) started the match strong, dominating the first set. A few kills from Ford put ASU up 3-2 early, but it was all Arizona after that. An 11-1 run put the set far out of place for the Sun Devils as they fell 25-12.
The second set was closer, but the Wildcats still controlled the momentum. An early 5-0 run for the visitors put them up 7-2 and they never looked back. The Sun Devils saw a spark later in the set. They went on a 4-1 run to cut into the deficit, making it 21-16 after a dig from Halle Johnson turned into a kill, surprising the Arizona defense. Ultimately, the Wildcats took the set, 25-17, taking a 2-0 advantage in the match.
S2 | The rare occasion when a dig becomes a kill. Halle Johnson with the huge dig here to make it 21-16! #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/oqipJX6QJy
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) November 25, 2018
Arizona State came out a new team in the third set. The two teams traded points for the first part of the set. An ace from Ivana Jeremic put ASU up 12-11, but Arizona followed that up with three in a row to take a two-point lead. The Sun Devils kept it close, either trailing by one or tying the set, until the Wildcats got up by two again, 22-20. A few kills from Claire Kovensky kept hopes alive, but Arizona closed the door, winning 25-23 and completing the sweep.
Prior to the match, the three seniors, Ford, Peyton Grahovac and Carmen Unzue, were honored.
THANK YOU SENIORS!#ForksUp #SunDevilFamily pic.twitter.com/XEJpISpCPo
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) November 25, 2018