PULLMAN, Wash. – Down 2-0 on the road, Arizona State volleyball came back to beat No. 21 Washington State in five sets (19-25, 17-25, 25-20, 25-22, 15-12) for the first win over a ranked opponent this season, led by a career-high 20 kills from freshman Iman Isanovic.
Notable Stats
Arizona State head coach Sanja Tomasevic
"I am super proud of the way we came back and played the last three sets. In the first two sets, we had glimpses of good stuff, but there was some panic and we played timid and nervous. I love the way how our bench players came in and responded. They brought the team up and kept us disciplined. I'm really proud of Madi (Berkholz) to come in and do what she did. That was awesome. I'm so proud of Iman and Jada for how they played today. I'm super proud of both of them."
Freshman outside hitter Iman Isanovic
"I felt freaking amazing. Being down two sets against the 21st team in the country and after having a few losses in a row, to come back like this was amazing. To come together and play for everyone is the best feeling ever. When Anni (Larson) served that last serve (match point), I think everyone lost their mind. Bottom line, I'm really proud of this team."
Set One: Washington State 25, Arizona State 19
Two kills in a row from Burse got ASU on the board first. The Sun Devils did not relinquish the lead until the Cougars scored three in a row to go up 11-9. Arizona State tied it back up at 11-11 with another kill from Burse and an error from the home team. However, WSU put together four-straight points to make it 20-14 and ASU could not get back in it. Two kills from Mitrovic held off set point, but the Cougars won 25-19.
Set Two: Washington State 25, Arizona State 17
WSU jumped out to a four-point lead after scoring four in a row, making it 6-2. The Sun Devils responded with a 4-0 run of their own, tying it up at 7-7. A kill and solo block from Burse got her team within one, down 16-15. The Cougars were able to pull away, scoring five in a row to win the set, 25-17.
Set Three: Arizona State 25, Washington State 20
The Sun Devils played from behind for most of the third set, keeping it close, until an ace from Nicole Peterson tied it at 17-17, capping off a 3-0 run. An error from WSU gave ASU the 19-18 lead. With Leffel serving, Arizona State scored five in a row to get to set point, 24-19. A kill from Beedie clinched the win, 25-20.
Set Four: Arizona State 25, Washington State 22
ASU got down early in the fourth, trailing by four at 11-7 before calling a timeout. Isanovic caught fire in this frame and helped cut into the deficit with two kills in a row as part of a 3-0 run, making it 14-11. Madi Berkholz came in to serve and an ace from the freshman made it 18-15, keeping Arizona State in it. Another 3-0 run for the Sun Devils made it a one-point game. Isanovic had four kills in a row to get them to set point before a block win the set 25-22.
Set Five: Arizona State 15, Washington State 12
Isanoivc and Burse had three kills each in the final frame for the Sun Devils as they jumped out to an early lead. An ace from Jones and a solo block from Kovensky made it 9-6 in favor of the road team. An ace from Annika Larson sealed the win for Arizona State, 15-12.
Up Next
Arizona State is back home next weekend to host Oregon and Oregon State on Friday and Sunday, respectively. Both matches will be live on the Pac-12 Network, and fans can purchase their tickets on SunDevilTickets.com.
--ASU volleyball rallies to upset No. 21 Washington State (azcentral.com)
--Sun Devils rally to upset No. 21 WSU (House of Sparky)
--ASU volleyball posts comeback win over No. 21 WSU (State Press)
DOWN GOES NO. 21??
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) October 20, 2019
The Sun Devils come back from a 2-0 deficit to upset No. 21 Washington State on the road! pic.twitter.com/rgaSE2FfD5
Notable Stats
- Arizona State (11-8, 3-5 Pac-12) beat Washington State (16-4, 5-3 Pac-12) for the first time since 2015 and for the first time on the road since 2014.
- This snapped a four-match losing streak for Arizona State and is the first Pac-12 road win of the year.
- This was the first win for ASU after being down 2-0 this season. The team is now 3-1 in five-set matches.
- The Sun Devils beat a top-25 team for the first time this season after four previous attempts.
- Isanovic had 20 kills in the win, surpassing her previous high of 13. She hit. 256 and had just four errors in five sets played. She is the first freshman at ASU to reach 20 kills since teammate Ivana Jeremic notched 21 in the win over Arizona her freshman season.
- Two other pin hitters reached double figures in kills. Senior Jada Burse had 16 kills and four blocks (season-high 3 solo blocks), both numbers tying season highs. Andrea Mitrovic had 12 kills.
- Junior middle blocker Megan Beedie had 10 kills, a season high, with a .471 clip.
- Senior libero Courtney Leffel had 23 digs for her ninth match with 20 or more digs. She also had an ace in the winning effort.
- Senior setter Nicole Peterson had a season high in assists with 28 as well as 11 digs, also a season high, for her first double-double in 2019. Callie Jones had 25 assists and 13 digs, another senior setter with a double-double, her fourth of the year.
- Junior Claire Kovensky tied her season high dig number with 12, as well as earning five kills and two blocks.
Arizona State head coach Sanja Tomasevic
"I am super proud of the way we came back and played the last three sets. In the first two sets, we had glimpses of good stuff, but there was some panic and we played timid and nervous. I love the way how our bench players came in and responded. They brought the team up and kept us disciplined. I'm really proud of Madi (Berkholz) to come in and do what she did. That was awesome. I'm so proud of Iman and Jada for how they played today. I'm super proud of both of them."
Freshman outside hitter Iman Isanovic
"I felt freaking amazing. Being down two sets against the 21st team in the country and after having a few losses in a row, to come back like this was amazing. To come together and play for everyone is the best feeling ever. When Anni (Larson) served that last serve (match point), I think everyone lost their mind. Bottom line, I'm really proud of this team."
S1 | Block, block, block, KILL!! ??
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) October 20, 2019
We are up by two, 8-6! #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/3VsGjN74ew
Set One: Washington State 25, Arizona State 19
Two kills in a row from Burse got ASU on the board first. The Sun Devils did not relinquish the lead until the Cougars scored three in a row to go up 11-9. Arizona State tied it back up at 11-11 with another kill from Burse and an error from the home team. However, WSU put together four-straight points to make it 20-14 and ASU could not get back in it. Two kills from Mitrovic held off set point, but the Cougars won 25-19.
Set Two: Washington State 25, Arizona State 17
WSU jumped out to a four-point lead after scoring four in a row, making it 6-2. The Sun Devils responded with a 4-0 run of their own, tying it up at 7-7. A kill and solo block from Burse got her team within one, down 16-15. The Cougars were able to pull away, scoring five in a row to win the set, 25-17.
S2 | Nice try. Can't be sneaky on Jada Burse. ??
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) October 20, 2019
We are tied at 9-9! #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/BNIORN8Edw
Set Three: Arizona State 25, Washington State 20
The Sun Devils played from behind for most of the third set, keeping it close, until an ace from Nicole Peterson tied it at 17-17, capping off a 3-0 run. An error from WSU gave ASU the 19-18 lead. With Leffel serving, Arizona State scored five in a row to get to set point, 24-19. A kill from Beedie clinched the win, 25-20.
Set Four: Arizona State 25, Washington State 22
ASU got down early in the fourth, trailing by four at 11-7 before calling a timeout. Isanovic caught fire in this frame and helped cut into the deficit with two kills in a row as part of a 3-0 run, making it 14-11. Madi Berkholz came in to serve and an ace from the freshman made it 18-15, keeping Arizona State in it. Another 3-0 run for the Sun Devils made it a one-point game. Isanovic had four kills in a row to get them to set point before a block win the set 25-22.
S4 | Here's the MONSTER BLOCK to send us to a fifth set! ??#ForksUp pic.twitter.com/mNVzoz3OEV
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) October 20, 2019
Set Five: Arizona State 15, Washington State 12
Isanoivc and Burse had three kills each in the final frame for the Sun Devils as they jumped out to an early lead. An ace from Jones and a solo block from Kovensky made it 9-6 in favor of the road team. An ace from Annika Larson sealed the win for Arizona State, 15-12.
Beating a ranked team? Great.
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) October 20, 2019
Winning in Pullman for the first time since 2014? Really great. ??#ForksUp pic.twitter.com/zlMlOxZK37
Up Next
Arizona State is back home next weekend to host Oregon and Oregon State on Friday and Sunday, respectively. Both matches will be live on the Pac-12 Network, and fans can purchase their tickets on SunDevilTickets.com.
--ASU volleyball rallies to upset No. 21 Washington State (azcentral.com)
--Sun Devils rally to upset No. 21 WSU (House of Sparky)
--ASU volleyball posts comeback win over No. 21 WSU (State Press)