TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State volleyball had a strong 2018 season filled with upsets, accolades and improvements, setting the stage for a big jump in 2019.
Arizona State finished the season at 14-18, 5-15 Pac-12. After a tough 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.
"I am happy with the way we've improved this season," Arizona State head coach Sanja Tomasevic said. "We've shown some signs of excellence and, more importantly, our athletes saw what they are capable of. We have expectations and an obligation to represent more than just ourselves at this elite level. The Pac-12 is the conference of champions, and by signing up to play at the institution like ASU, you are signing up for a high level of excellence. Not sometimes, not just on the court or in practice and during games, but all the time. I'm happy with the steps we have taken towards that direction and can't wait for spring to start to build onto this 2018 season."
The Sun Devils were ranked in the AVCA Coaches Poll at No. 25 on Oct. 8, the first time being ranked since 2015 when they reached as high as No. 5. They also received votes on Oct. 1 and 15.
ASU had three wins against top-15 teams this season, the most in a single year since 2015. They swept then-No. 12 Oregon, which was the first win against the Ducks since Oct. 24, 2014, in Tempe and the first sweep against Oregon since Sept. 23, 2005, at home. The Ducks would go on to advance to the regional finals in the NCAA tournament. ASU also swept No. 15 Washington, the first victory over UW since a road win on Nov. 21, 2012. This was also the first sweep against the Huskies since Sept. 22, 2000, and the first win in Tempe over the Dawgs since Oct. 21, 2000. Washington also performed well in the NCAA tournament, making it to the regional semifinals. The third win came against then-No. 14 USC in four sets at home, the first win against them since 2014.
Before beating Oregon, ASU's last win over a ranked foe came on Sept. 16, 2016, with a win over No. 17 Santa Clara at home. The last time the Sun Devils had multiple wins over top-25 teams was in 2015 when they had four wins over ranked opponents.
Arizona State loses three seniors this season: Alyse Ford, Peyton Grahovac and Carmen Unzue. However, the Sun Devils' five juniors played key roles on the team this year and will bring strong leadership to next year's roster.
Ford ended her collegiate career on a high note. The 2018 Pac-12 Honorable Mention honoree led the team in kills with 363, averaging 3.70 per set, which also is a team-best. She ended the season on an eight-match double-digit kills streak. She had four matches with 20-plus kills, including a career-high 29 against Colorado that put her in a three-way tie for fourth for kills in a match at ASU in the rally scoring era. Additionally, it was Ford's only double-double at Arizona State and fourth career double-double. After back-to-back matches with 20-plus kills against UCLA and USC, Ford was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week, the lone weekly honor for Arizona State this year and the first offensive weekly nod since 2015.
Junior libero Courtney Leffel paced the defense all season. She had a career-best streak of 11-consecutive matches with double-digit digs this season. There were only four matches this season where she had less than 10 digs. In nine matches, she had 20-plus digs, including a career-high 28 against Northern Arizona.
Ivana Jeremic had a well-rounded season, totaling 10 double-doubles. She was second on the team in digs with 262 and second in kills with 309. In the win over Oregon, she led the team with 16 kills and 12 digs. Nicole Peterson also had 10 double-doubles this year. She had a team-best 571 assists and was third in digs with 260.
The team will come back stronger in 2019, adding six freshmen and one transfer to the senior-heavy roster.
Arizona State finished the season at 14-18, 5-15 Pac-12. After a tough 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.
"I am happy with the way we've improved this season," Arizona State head coach Sanja Tomasevic said. "We've shown some signs of excellence and, more importantly, our athletes saw what they are capable of. We have expectations and an obligation to represent more than just ourselves at this elite level. The Pac-12 is the conference of champions, and by signing up to play at the institution like ASU, you are signing up for a high level of excellence. Not sometimes, not just on the court or in practice and during games, but all the time. I'm happy with the steps we have taken towards that direction and can't wait for spring to start to build onto this 2018 season."
The Sun Devils were ranked in the AVCA Coaches Poll at No. 25 on Oct. 8, the first time being ranked since 2015 when they reached as high as No. 5. They also received votes on Oct. 1 and 15.
ASU had three wins against top-15 teams this season, the most in a single year since 2015. They swept then-No. 12 Oregon, which was the first win against the Ducks since Oct. 24, 2014, in Tempe and the first sweep against Oregon since Sept. 23, 2005, at home. The Ducks would go on to advance to the regional finals in the NCAA tournament. ASU also swept No. 15 Washington, the first victory over UW since a road win on Nov. 21, 2012. This was also the first sweep against the Huskies since Sept. 22, 2000, and the first win in Tempe over the Dawgs since Oct. 21, 2000. Washington also performed well in the NCAA tournament, making it to the regional semifinals. The third win came against then-No. 14 USC in four sets at home, the first win against them since 2014.
Before beating Oregon, ASU's last win over a ranked foe came on Sept. 16, 2016, with a win over No. 17 Santa Clara at home. The last time the Sun Devils had multiple wins over top-25 teams was in 2015 when they had four wins over ranked opponents.
Arizona State loses three seniors this season: Alyse Ford, Peyton Grahovac and Carmen Unzue. However, the Sun Devils' five juniors played key roles on the team this year and will bring strong leadership to next year's roster.
Ford ended her collegiate career on a high note. The 2018 Pac-12 Honorable Mention honoree led the team in kills with 363, averaging 3.70 per set, which also is a team-best. She ended the season on an eight-match double-digit kills streak. She had four matches with 20-plus kills, including a career-high 29 against Colorado that put her in a three-way tie for fourth for kills in a match at ASU in the rally scoring era. Additionally, it was Ford's only double-double at Arizona State and fourth career double-double. After back-to-back matches with 20-plus kills against UCLA and USC, Ford was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week, the lone weekly honor for Arizona State this year and the first offensive weekly nod since 2015.
Junior libero Courtney Leffel paced the defense all season. She had a career-best streak of 11-consecutive matches with double-digit digs this season. There were only four matches this season where she had less than 10 digs. In nine matches, she had 20-plus digs, including a career-high 28 against Northern Arizona.
Ivana Jeremic had a well-rounded season, totaling 10 double-doubles. She was second on the team in digs with 262 and second in kills with 309. In the win over Oregon, she led the team with 16 kills and 12 digs. Nicole Peterson also had 10 double-doubles this year. She had a team-best 571 assists and was third in digs with 260.
The team will come back stronger in 2019, adding six freshmen and one transfer to the senior-heavy roster.