TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil Volleyball came up short in the rivalry match against Arizona in five sets (23-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-11) at Desert Financial Arena on Saturday in the last match of the season.
Notable Stats
Quotes
Arizona State Head Coach Sanja Tomasevic
Opening Statement
"It's a tough way to end the season, being up 2-0 at home and then letting it slip out of our hands. Not to take anything away from U of A, I thought they played a really good match. We definitely played two different matches in five sets."
On the send-off of three seniors
"Obviously, I would have wished to send them off with a win; that would have been a way better way to end this. All of these kids have made an impact on our program in one way or another. It has been fun being their coach and watching them grow. Brooke in just one year, Annika since her junior year of high school when I first saw her. Shannon, even though she wasn't here, I recruited her when she was in eighth grade here so seeing her grow from eighth grade until now has been super fun. I'm super proud of them, the impact they've left on this program and the kind of women they are becoming. I know they'll be ready for whatever is coming up next in their life because they have been competing and learning at such a high level and dealing with challenges every single day. It's been a pleasure and privilege to watch them grow."
On areas of improvement going into offseason
"We need to develop a third pin hitter who can put up double-digits. It has to be something we emphasize in the offseason. I think we've gotten in a lot better shape as the season has gone on and that has helped us a lot. We gelled a little bit better the longer we played together so it's just that team chemistry that develops the longer we're on the court together. It's something that has to develop over time."
Senior outside hitter Iman Isanovic
On the outcome of the game
"I think the fourth set left its impact. It was kind of like a big oscillation in comparison to the other three previous sets we played, because we obviously were up for two sets, and we were back and forth with them. And then the third set that we lost, it was 19-19 at one point, so it wasn't that big of an imbalance. In the fourth set we really slowed down our game which resulted in them being up significantly and us being forced to come back. And as one of the oldest players on the team, I just think that one of my responsibilities is to be there for my team. And then to provide that kind of energy and stuff like that, because that's what my character and personality overall is. I like to compete; I like to win. And I like to be there for my teammates, and just like me trying to light some fire and that's my way of showing my support. There were a little bit of stupid errors and stuff like that. But overall, it is what it is."
On having the opportunity to come back next year for a fifth season
"Since my freshman year until now, we haven't had the opportunity to show what we can do on the big stage. Sanja and the coaching staff really took a chance on a girl from Bosnia and Herzegovina. None of the other girls from my country played some kind of some level of division, volleyball like USA volleyball. They haven't had the opportunity to play at the level that I have. So I think for me, a big part for me is staying loyal and being there for the people who were there for me because that's a really big part in my culture as well."
On the impact of the seniors on her life
"This group of seniors really holds a special place in my heart. Shannon has been my best friend off the court. She has been here since my second semester of freshman year and we have been roommates forever. She is just like my little little sister and seeing her on a big night, having all the lights directed towards her was really nice because she is a shining light of this program. And I am happy that we recognize her because she deserves to be recognized. Same thing with Annika, she's been here from my start, we have been through thick and thin together and seeing her grow as a leader especially because even her freshman year, she has always been this big player on the court. She's very vocal and stuff like that. But I think she developed in many other aspects leadership-wise. The sense of team that she brought to our team is very special. And she's been a very crucial part of our program. And Brooke (Boiseau) has had one hell of a journey and is one of the most graceful people I know. She is another shining light on this team."
Set One: ASU 25, Arizona 23
The Sun Devils started strong with a 3-0 run that saw the first block from Stahlke and Levinska. Another block, this time from Shields and Jeter, made it an 11-5 lead, forcing Arizona's first timeout. The home team would hold the lead, even as the Wildcats inched closer. ASU created more separation after a 3-0 run with two aces a row from Cyr, going up 21-17. However, Arizona responded by scoring four in a row to tie it up at 21 all. Arizona State was able to pull away at the end, a kill from Shields ending it.
Set Two: ASU 25, Arizona 23
The second set started close, neither team able to pull away, until it then became a game of runs. Arizona took its first lead of the match after scoring four in a row, going up 10-8. The Sun Devils responded with three-consecutive points, including a kill and a block from Levinska, to take back the lead, 11-10. Following a 5-0 ASU run that saw three-straight Arizona errors, the advantage went up to 16-11. The Wildcats put together a few streaks to get back in it and got within one, the Sun Devils up 21-20, with four points in a row. Levinska, who reached 1,000 career kills in this set, caught fire towards the end of the set to put it away, scoring ASU's last two points, including the set winner.
Set Three: Arizona 25, ASU 23
The block got going early in the third for the Sun Devils, Stahlke getting two to make it a 3-2 lead. The teams kept it close with eight ties and two lead changes in the set. The Wildcats started to pull away with a pair of 3-0 runs, one to take the 11-9 lead and another later on to make it 16-12 and force a Sun Devil timeout. Arizona State rallied to tie it up at 19-19 with a block from Stahlke and it was back and forth from there. Cyr's kill knotted it up at 21-21 before the Wildcats got back on top. Levinska's kill held off one set point but Arizona would take the third set.
Set Four: Arizona 25, ASU 20
The Wildcats continued their momentum into the fourth set, getting a big 10-4 lead to force an early Sun Devil timeout. ASU got a few kills in from Levinska and Stahlke, but the deficit continued to grow. Arizona led 16-8 when Arizona State called its second timeout. The Sun Devils put together four in a row with Meadow Cooper at the service line to make it 22-17 for the Cats, a run that saw a block from Snyder and an ace from Cooper. The late push fell short as Arizona would win the set and force a fifth.
Set Five: Arizona 15, ASU 11
Levinska was the point-scorer for the Sun Devils to start the fifth, her third kill of the set making it 4-3 in favor of the Wildcats. ASU trailed 8-6 at the switch and called a timeout down 10-7. Behind two kills from Isanovic and tough serves from Snyder, the Sun Devils scored four in a row to tie it at 11-11, the Wildcats using both of their timeouts during the run. Out of the second timeout, Arizona scored four in a row to get the comeback win.
Notable Stats
- Arizona State (13-19, 7-13 Pac-12) split the season series with Arizona (16-15, 6-14 Pac-12) this year, with ASU winning earlier in the season in Tucson. Each team gets a half point in the Territorial Cup Series.
- The Sun Devils played in nine five-set matches this season, going 5-4.
- Prior to the match, the three graduating seniors were honored: Brooke Boiseau, Annika Larson-Nummer and Shannon Shields.
- Junior pin hitter Marta Levinska reached 1,000 career kills today in style, matching her career high of 25 and hitting .389 while adding 11 digs for her sixth double-double this year. She became the 19th Sun Devil to do so. She's the second on the team to reach the milestone this season after Iman Isanovic did so earlier this year.
- The block was a factor for both teams, with Sun Devils earning 14 and the Wildcats getting 16.5. ASU was led by junior middle blocker Claudia Stahlke's seven, while junior Claire Jeter and Levinska added five each.
- Senior outside hitter Iman Isanovic, who announced her return for her fifth year in 2023, notched 16 kills, her 14th match in a row with double-digit kills and 26th this year. She neared a double-double with nine digs.
- Shields was the primary setter for the majority of the match, collecting 40 assists and adding nine digs. Junior Ella Snyder came in the last two sets, getting seven assists.
- The libero position saw a few different Sun Devils. Sophomore Jaden Ravnsborg started and played the first three sets, totaling 19 digs on the day. Senior Larson-Nummer took over in the fourth set, earning three digs. Both also subbed in as defensive specialists while not in the libero jersey.
- Sophomore Geli Cyr earned a career high in aces today with three, all in the first set. She also had eight digs and six kills.
- Senior Brooke Boiseau started and played for the first time as a Sun Devil in honor of senior day. She subbed out after the first play for Claudia Stahlke.
- The total attendance for the match was 3,286, which is the eighth-highest in the ASU record book.
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Quotes
Arizona State Head Coach Sanja Tomasevic
Opening Statement
"It's a tough way to end the season, being up 2-0 at home and then letting it slip out of our hands. Not to take anything away from U of A, I thought they played a really good match. We definitely played two different matches in five sets."
On the send-off of three seniors
"Obviously, I would have wished to send them off with a win; that would have been a way better way to end this. All of these kids have made an impact on our program in one way or another. It has been fun being their coach and watching them grow. Brooke in just one year, Annika since her junior year of high school when I first saw her. Shannon, even though she wasn't here, I recruited her when she was in eighth grade here so seeing her grow from eighth grade until now has been super fun. I'm super proud of them, the impact they've left on this program and the kind of women they are becoming. I know they'll be ready for whatever is coming up next in their life because they have been competing and learning at such a high level and dealing with challenges every single day. It's been a pleasure and privilege to watch them grow."
On areas of improvement going into offseason
"We need to develop a third pin hitter who can put up double-digits. It has to be something we emphasize in the offseason. I think we've gotten in a lot better shape as the season has gone on and that has helped us a lot. We gelled a little bit better the longer we played together so it's just that team chemistry that develops the longer we're on the court together. It's something that has to develop over time."
Senior outside hitter Iman Isanovic
On the outcome of the game
"I think the fourth set left its impact. It was kind of like a big oscillation in comparison to the other three previous sets we played, because we obviously were up for two sets, and we were back and forth with them. And then the third set that we lost, it was 19-19 at one point, so it wasn't that big of an imbalance. In the fourth set we really slowed down our game which resulted in them being up significantly and us being forced to come back. And as one of the oldest players on the team, I just think that one of my responsibilities is to be there for my team. And then to provide that kind of energy and stuff like that, because that's what my character and personality overall is. I like to compete; I like to win. And I like to be there for my teammates, and just like me trying to light some fire and that's my way of showing my support. There were a little bit of stupid errors and stuff like that. But overall, it is what it is."
On having the opportunity to come back next year for a fifth season
"Since my freshman year until now, we haven't had the opportunity to show what we can do on the big stage. Sanja and the coaching staff really took a chance on a girl from Bosnia and Herzegovina. None of the other girls from my country played some kind of some level of division, volleyball like USA volleyball. They haven't had the opportunity to play at the level that I have. So I think for me, a big part for me is staying loyal and being there for the people who were there for me because that's a really big part in my culture as well."
On the impact of the seniors on her life
"This group of seniors really holds a special place in my heart. Shannon has been my best friend off the court. She has been here since my second semester of freshman year and we have been roommates forever. She is just like my little little sister and seeing her on a big night, having all the lights directed towards her was really nice because she is a shining light of this program. And I am happy that we recognize her because she deserves to be recognized. Same thing with Annika, she's been here from my start, we have been through thick and thin together and seeing her grow as a leader especially because even her freshman year, she has always been this big player on the court. She's very vocal and stuff like that. But I think she developed in many other aspects leadership-wise. The sense of team that she brought to our team is very special. And she's been a very crucial part of our program. And Brooke (Boiseau) has had one hell of a journey and is one of the most graceful people I know. She is another shining light on this team."
Set One: ASU 25, Arizona 23
The Sun Devils started strong with a 3-0 run that saw the first block from Stahlke and Levinska. Another block, this time from Shields and Jeter, made it an 11-5 lead, forcing Arizona's first timeout. The home team would hold the lead, even as the Wildcats inched closer. ASU created more separation after a 3-0 run with two aces a row from Cyr, going up 21-17. However, Arizona responded by scoring four in a row to tie it up at 21 all. Arizona State was able to pull away at the end, a kill from Shields ending it.
Set Two: ASU 25, Arizona 23
The second set started close, neither team able to pull away, until it then became a game of runs. Arizona took its first lead of the match after scoring four in a row, going up 10-8. The Sun Devils responded with three-consecutive points, including a kill and a block from Levinska, to take back the lead, 11-10. Following a 5-0 ASU run that saw three-straight Arizona errors, the advantage went up to 16-11. The Wildcats put together a few streaks to get back in it and got within one, the Sun Devils up 21-20, with four points in a row. Levinska, who reached 1,000 career kills in this set, caught fire towards the end of the set to put it away, scoring ASU's last two points, including the set winner.
1,000 CAREER KILLS??
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) November 27, 2022
Congrats to Marta, the 19th Sun Devil to reach the milestone! ????#ForksUp /// #EarnIt pic.twitter.com/8rjm9qz2wA
Set Three: Arizona 25, ASU 23
The block got going early in the third for the Sun Devils, Stahlke getting two to make it a 3-2 lead. The teams kept it close with eight ties and two lead changes in the set. The Wildcats started to pull away with a pair of 3-0 runs, one to take the 11-9 lead and another later on to make it 16-12 and force a Sun Devil timeout. Arizona State rallied to tie it up at 19-19 with a block from Stahlke and it was back and forth from there. Cyr's kill knotted it up at 21-21 before the Wildcats got back on top. Levinska's kill held off one set point but Arizona would take the third set.
Set Four: Arizona 25, ASU 20
The Wildcats continued their momentum into the fourth set, getting a big 10-4 lead to force an early Sun Devil timeout. ASU got a few kills in from Levinska and Stahlke, but the deficit continued to grow. Arizona led 16-8 when Arizona State called its second timeout. The Sun Devils put together four in a row with Meadow Cooper at the service line to make it 22-17 for the Cats, a run that saw a block from Snyder and an ace from Cooper. The late push fell short as Arizona would win the set and force a fifth.
Set Five: Arizona 15, ASU 11
Levinska was the point-scorer for the Sun Devils to start the fifth, her third kill of the set making it 4-3 in favor of the Wildcats. ASU trailed 8-6 at the switch and called a timeout down 10-7. Behind two kills from Isanovic and tough serves from Snyder, the Sun Devils scored four in a row to tie it at 11-11, the Wildcats using both of their timeouts during the run. Out of the second timeout, Arizona scored four in a row to get the comeback win.