TUCSON, Ariz. – In the first of two rivalry games this weekend, Sun Devil Volleyball came up short against the Arizona Wildcats, falling in three sets (25-19, 25-19, 25-20) on Friday afternoon at the McKale Center.
Notable Stats
The opening frame started close, the teams switching leads. The Sun Devils got back on top after a kill from Levinska made it 8-7. Slowly, the Wildcats took the lead and added to it with short runs. A kill and an ace from Isanovic got ASU two in a row to cut into the deficit, 23-19. Arizona would respond with two-straight points to win the set, 25-19.
Set Two: Arizona 25, Arizona State 19
Both teams went back and forth for the second set. Rabelo got into the match in this set, making an immediate difference. She put down her fourth kill to tie it at 12-12. The Wildcats put together a 7-0 run to build their lead to 20-14. Late kills from Levinska and Kennedi Boyd were not enough as the home team went on to win 25-19.
Set Three: Arizona 25, Arizona State 20
The Sun Devil serve was on fire to start the third set. Four of the first eight points for ASU were aces, two coming from Isanovic. Levinska's ace put her team up 8-6. Arizona put together a 6-2 run to take the 16-12 lead. Three-straight Wildcat errors got the Sun Devils back in it, trailing by just two at 18-16 when Arizona called a timeout. Four-straight points for the Wildcats made it 23-18. Arizona State was unable to come back, falling 25-20.
Up Next
The two teams will match up again on Sunday, this time in Tempe. It will begin at 4 p.m. MST and will be on the Pac-12 Networks.
Notable Stats
- Arizona State (1-10) fell to Arizona (5-8) for the first time since 2018. The Sun Devils have a chance at the other half of the Territorial Cup point on Sunday in Tempe.
- The Sun Devil serve was strong at times during the match, totaling six aces, four of which came from the third set. Sophomore Iman Isanovic led the way with three aces.
- Isanovic led the team in aces with three and in kills with 11, one of two players in the match to reach double figures.
- Freshman outside hitters Marta Levinska and Roberta Rabelo had solid outings, Levinska notching nine kills and Rabelo earning seven with a career-high .357 clip.
- Freshman setter Ella Snyder had 29 assists in the match to lead the team.
- The libero duties were split in the match. Sophomore Madi Berkholz started her first match at libero, her second set in the role. Fellow sophomore Annika Larson took over for the second and third sets, collecting a team-high eight digs.
The opening frame started close, the teams switching leads. The Sun Devils got back on top after a kill from Levinska made it 8-7. Slowly, the Wildcats took the lead and added to it with short runs. A kill and an ace from Isanovic got ASU two in a row to cut into the deficit, 23-19. Arizona would respond with two-straight points to win the set, 25-19.
Set Two: Arizona 25, Arizona State 19
Both teams went back and forth for the second set. Rabelo got into the match in this set, making an immediate difference. She put down her fourth kill to tie it at 12-12. The Wildcats put together a 7-0 run to build their lead to 20-14. Late kills from Levinska and Kennedi Boyd were not enough as the home team went on to win 25-19.
Set Three: Arizona 25, Arizona State 20
The Sun Devil serve was on fire to start the third set. Four of the first eight points for ASU were aces, two coming from Isanovic. Levinska's ace put her team up 8-6. Arizona put together a 6-2 run to take the 16-12 lead. Three-straight Wildcat errors got the Sun Devils back in it, trailing by just two at 18-16 when Arizona called a timeout. Four-straight points for the Wildcats made it 23-18. Arizona State was unable to come back, falling 25-20.
Up Next
The two teams will match up again on Sunday, this time in Tempe. It will begin at 4 p.m. MST and will be on the Pac-12 Networks.