TUCSON, Ariz. – Sun Devil volleyball kicks off conference play on the road, traveling to Tucson to take on rival Arizona for a midweek matchup Thursday evening and then to the Bay Area to take on California on Sunday.
The match against the Wildcats (11-1) is set for an 7 p.m. MST first serve, while Sunday's tilt with the Golden Bears (8-3) is slated to get underway at 2 p.m. MST.
Each match will air live on Pac-12 network with Krista Blunk and former professional beach volleyball player Mike Dodd on the call for the Territorial Cup Series match.
How To Follow This Week's Action…
Arizona: Watch | Live Stats
California: Watch
Territorial Cup Series…
The Sun Devils have collectively captured the coveted Territorial Cup Series title, featuring Arizona State and in-state rival Arizona, in five-consecutive seasons.
Series Records…
The Sun Devils will look to snag the all-time, 50-50, series lead against Arizona this week, while also aiming to continue their 36-30 lead over Cal. Arizona State currently boasts a 34-17 record against the Wildcats at home.
Last Time Out
ASU finished up their non-conference schedule at home last weekend, welcoming in Texas State, NAU and Gonzaga to the first annual Sparky Classic.
ASU finished the weekend with a 2-1 weekend in the two-day tournament. The Sun Devils swept their Friday double-header, taking both matches against NAU and Gonzaga by a final of 3-1. On Saturday, ASU dropped their match with Texas State, 3-0.
Megan Beedie and Nicole Peterson highlighted the squad with both being named to the All-Tournament teams for their efforts.
Scouting the Opposition
The Wildcats hold an 11-1 record and sit atop the Pac-12 volleyball standings. The team opened up 2018 with an 8-0 record before facing up against New Mexico State, who ASU swept in straight sets in the Sun Devil Classic.
The Aggies represent the only loss for Arizona, as NM State took the match 3-2 behind a 30-kill performance by outsite hitter Kendra Dahlke.
Fuimos a Puerto Rico
The Sun Devils traveled to Puerto Rico for the third annual Puerto Rico Clasico in San Juan.
ASU finished with a 2-1 record, notching wins over Xavier and Towson while falling to Missouri. The team was led by libero Courtney Leffel and outside hitter Ivana Jeremic, who were both voted to the All-Tournament team.
Jeremic finished the weekend with 32 kills while Leffel contributed 43 digs. ASU made quick work of Towson to kick off the Clásico, sweeping the Tigers in three sets. The Sun Devils split their double-header on Saturday, defeating Xavier 3-1 while falling to Missouri 3-1 later that evening.
Dig 1, Set 6, Attack 21
The pair of Courtney Leffel and Ivana Jeremic have been on fire for the Sun Devils to begin the 2018 campaign.
Leffel ranks third in the Pac-12 in digs, notching 190 through 12 matches. The junior libero is a leader and difference maker on the squad, as she was voted to three All-Tournament teams thus far (Sun Devil Classic, Puerto Rico Clasico, UNIWYO Invite).
Jeremic's swings have been crucial for the Sun Devils, placing in the top-5 kills and in the top-10 in kills per set (7th). Her career-high 26 kills against Wyoming were tied for most by a Pac-12 player in a four set match. Her seven double-doubles on the season are also the second-most in the conference.
Beedie's Break Out
Megan Beedie has been a break out star for ASU this season. The sophomore has racked up 87 kills in 43 sets thus far, hitting .393, good for third in the Pac-12. Beedie also has a team-high 10 service aces and is second on the squad in blocks with 30.
Beedie was named the Tournament MVP for her efforts in the Sun Devil Classic, notching 28 kills on the weekend, including a career-high 12 in the match against Pacific.
Second-Straight Sun Devil Classic Title
For a second consecutive season, the Maroon and Gold lifted their season with a 3-0 sweep of the Sun Devil Classic. Within the friendly confines of Wells Fargo Arena, ASU took on UT Arlington, NM State and Pacific. Ivana Jeremic and Megan Beedie led the Sun Devils' offensive charge, with Jeremic notching career-highs in Kills (24) and Digs (18) and Beedie notching a career-high 10 kills as well.
Familiar Faces
The Sun Devils return 10 letterwinners to the roster in 2018 including Courtney Leffel, Peyton Grahovac, Carmen Unzue, Nicole Peterson, Shelbie Dobmeier, Danica Krstonosic, Halle Johnson, Megan Beedie, Ivana Jeremic and Callie Jones.
Moreno Elevated to Associate Head Coach
Head coach Sanja Tomasevic announced the promotion of Carlos Moreno to associate head coach on July 15.
"Carlos has played an integral role in our program's development on a competitive, personnel and cultural basis," said Tomasevic. "His exceptional knowledge of the sport, capacity to mentor and teach, and ultimately steadfast commitment to Sun Devil volleyball has proven invaluable. I am elated to reward Carlos' tremendous efforts with this well-deserved promotion."
Moreno enters his second season with the Sun Devil program, notably having served a brief stint as interim head coach in the latter part of the 2017 season.
Championship Pedigree
Arizona State's coaching staff - Sanja Tomasevic (head coach), Carlos Moreno (assistant coach), Macey Gardner (assistant coach), and Kyle Breitbarth (volunteer assistant coach) - boasts an impressive, collective playing resume.
Head coach Sanja Tomasevic, was a two-time All-American and the 2005 Asics and CVU.com National Player of the Year at the University of Washington, and led the Huskies to four NCAA tournament appearances, including the 2005 National Championship, and a pair of Pac-10 Conference titles. In October of 2016, Tomasevic became just the second individual volleyball player to be inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame. The former outside hitter ended her collegiate career as Washington's all-time leader in points (2,159.5), kills (1,795) and service aces (156). She is one of only five players in Huskies history to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs.
Assistant Carlos Moreno compiled a prolific playing career as a setter at Brigham Young University, garnering essentially every national award possible, including AVCA and MPSF Player of the year honors. A three-year starter for the Cougars, Moreno amassed 4,628 career assists, marking the second-most in program in history, while adding 78 career aces (4th-most in program history). Spearheading BYU NCAA Championship runs in 2003 and 2004, Moreno earned a plethora of Player of the Year and MVP honors while also being placed on MSPF's and AVCA's respective first-teams. A two-time All-American and the 2004 AVCA National Player of the Year, Moreno led the Cougars to two NCAA tournament appearances, including the 2004 National Championship, and a pair of MPSF Conference titles.
Assistant Macey Gardner is widely considered as one of the greatest to ever don the Arizona State maroon and gold, and concluded her collegiate career as Arizona State's all-time kills leader with 1,882 to her credit. Arizona State's second ever three-time All-Pac-12 honoree, she was just the 17th Sun Devil to record 1,000 career digs, and just the 10th to record 1,000 or more kills and digs in her career.
Sun Devil volunteer assistant Kyle Breitbarth competed as a member of the University of Illinois men's club volleyball team from 2010-16. Boasting an impressice collegiate career donning the Illini blue and orange, he was a member of the 2013 NCVF University of Illinois national championship team, while helping propel the squad to a Big Ten championship and program-best 71-11 record in 2016.
The match against the Wildcats (11-1) is set for an 7 p.m. MST first serve, while Sunday's tilt with the Golden Bears (8-3) is slated to get underway at 2 p.m. MST.
Each match will air live on Pac-12 network with Krista Blunk and former professional beach volleyball player Mike Dodd on the call for the Territorial Cup Series match.
How To Follow This Week's Action…
Arizona: Watch | Live Stats
California: Watch
Territorial Cup Series…
The Sun Devils have collectively captured the coveted Territorial Cup Series title, featuring Arizona State and in-state rival Arizona, in five-consecutive seasons.
Series Records…
The Sun Devils will look to snag the all-time, 50-50, series lead against Arizona this week, while also aiming to continue their 36-30 lead over Cal. Arizona State currently boasts a 34-17 record against the Wildcats at home.
Last Time Out
ASU finished up their non-conference schedule at home last weekend, welcoming in Texas State, NAU and Gonzaga to the first annual Sparky Classic.
ASU finished the weekend with a 2-1 weekend in the two-day tournament. The Sun Devils swept their Friday double-header, taking both matches against NAU and Gonzaga by a final of 3-1. On Saturday, ASU dropped their match with Texas State, 3-0.
Megan Beedie and Nicole Peterson highlighted the squad with both being named to the All-Tournament teams for their efforts.
Scouting the Opposition
The Wildcats hold an 11-1 record and sit atop the Pac-12 volleyball standings. The team opened up 2018 with an 8-0 record before facing up against New Mexico State, who ASU swept in straight sets in the Sun Devil Classic.
The Aggies represent the only loss for Arizona, as NM State took the match 3-2 behind a 30-kill performance by outsite hitter Kendra Dahlke.
Fuimos a Puerto Rico
The Sun Devils traveled to Puerto Rico for the third annual Puerto Rico Clasico in San Juan.
ASU finished with a 2-1 record, notching wins over Xavier and Towson while falling to Missouri. The team was led by libero Courtney Leffel and outside hitter Ivana Jeremic, who were both voted to the All-Tournament team.
Jeremic finished the weekend with 32 kills while Leffel contributed 43 digs. ASU made quick work of Towson to kick off the Clásico, sweeping the Tigers in three sets. The Sun Devils split their double-header on Saturday, defeating Xavier 3-1 while falling to Missouri 3-1 later that evening.
Dig 1, Set 6, Attack 21
The pair of Courtney Leffel and Ivana Jeremic have been on fire for the Sun Devils to begin the 2018 campaign.
Leffel ranks third in the Pac-12 in digs, notching 190 through 12 matches. The junior libero is a leader and difference maker on the squad, as she was voted to three All-Tournament teams thus far (Sun Devil Classic, Puerto Rico Clasico, UNIWYO Invite).
Jeremic's swings have been crucial for the Sun Devils, placing in the top-5 kills and in the top-10 in kills per set (7th). Her career-high 26 kills against Wyoming were tied for most by a Pac-12 player in a four set match. Her seven double-doubles on the season are also the second-most in the conference.
Beedie's Break Out
Megan Beedie has been a break out star for ASU this season. The sophomore has racked up 87 kills in 43 sets thus far, hitting .393, good for third in the Pac-12. Beedie also has a team-high 10 service aces and is second on the squad in blocks with 30.
Beedie was named the Tournament MVP for her efforts in the Sun Devil Classic, notching 28 kills on the weekend, including a career-high 12 in the match against Pacific.
Second-Straight Sun Devil Classic Title
For a second consecutive season, the Maroon and Gold lifted their season with a 3-0 sweep of the Sun Devil Classic. Within the friendly confines of Wells Fargo Arena, ASU took on UT Arlington, NM State and Pacific. Ivana Jeremic and Megan Beedie led the Sun Devils' offensive charge, with Jeremic notching career-highs in Kills (24) and Digs (18) and Beedie notching a career-high 10 kills as well.
Familiar Faces
The Sun Devils return 10 letterwinners to the roster in 2018 including Courtney Leffel, Peyton Grahovac, Carmen Unzue, Nicole Peterson, Shelbie Dobmeier, Danica Krstonosic, Halle Johnson, Megan Beedie, Ivana Jeremic and Callie Jones.
Moreno Elevated to Associate Head Coach
Head coach Sanja Tomasevic announced the promotion of Carlos Moreno to associate head coach on July 15.
"Carlos has played an integral role in our program's development on a competitive, personnel and cultural basis," said Tomasevic. "His exceptional knowledge of the sport, capacity to mentor and teach, and ultimately steadfast commitment to Sun Devil volleyball has proven invaluable. I am elated to reward Carlos' tremendous efforts with this well-deserved promotion."
Moreno enters his second season with the Sun Devil program, notably having served a brief stint as interim head coach in the latter part of the 2017 season.
Championship Pedigree
Arizona State's coaching staff - Sanja Tomasevic (head coach), Carlos Moreno (assistant coach), Macey Gardner (assistant coach), and Kyle Breitbarth (volunteer assistant coach) - boasts an impressive, collective playing resume.
Head coach Sanja Tomasevic, was a two-time All-American and the 2005 Asics and CVU.com National Player of the Year at the University of Washington, and led the Huskies to four NCAA tournament appearances, including the 2005 National Championship, and a pair of Pac-10 Conference titles. In October of 2016, Tomasevic became just the second individual volleyball player to be inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame. The former outside hitter ended her collegiate career as Washington's all-time leader in points (2,159.5), kills (1,795) and service aces (156). She is one of only five players in Huskies history to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs.
Assistant Carlos Moreno compiled a prolific playing career as a setter at Brigham Young University, garnering essentially every national award possible, including AVCA and MPSF Player of the year honors. A three-year starter for the Cougars, Moreno amassed 4,628 career assists, marking the second-most in program in history, while adding 78 career aces (4th-most in program history). Spearheading BYU NCAA Championship runs in 2003 and 2004, Moreno earned a plethora of Player of the Year and MVP honors while also being placed on MSPF's and AVCA's respective first-teams. A two-time All-American and the 2004 AVCA National Player of the Year, Moreno led the Cougars to two NCAA tournament appearances, including the 2004 National Championship, and a pair of MPSF Conference titles.
Assistant Macey Gardner is widely considered as one of the greatest to ever don the Arizona State maroon and gold, and concluded her collegiate career as Arizona State's all-time kills leader with 1,882 to her credit. Arizona State's second ever three-time All-Pac-12 honoree, she was just the 17th Sun Devil to record 1,000 career digs, and just the 10th to record 1,000 or more kills and digs in her career.
Sun Devil volunteer assistant Kyle Breitbarth competed as a member of the University of Illinois men's club volleyball team from 2010-16. Boasting an impressice collegiate career donning the Illini blue and orange, he was a member of the 2013 NCVF University of Illinois national championship team, while helping propel the squad to a Big Ten championship and program-best 71-11 record in 2016.