TUCSON, Ariz. – Sun Devil Volleyball defeated the Arizona Wildcats in Tucson to start Pac-12 play on Wednesday night, winning in four set (23-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-20).
"Really proud of the showing tonight," Arizona State Head Coach Sanja Tomasevic said. "I loved the way Ella ran the offense, and on the defensive side I thought we did really well following the scouting report and executing the plan. We had four people get double-digit points and it's tough to stop us when we have that. I'm proud of the girls and the grit and confidence they showed even when things were not going our way. We get to enjoy this win for a day and then we have to prepare for another really good Pac-12 team."
Notable Stats
Set One: Arizona 25, ASU 23
The Sun Devils fell behind early, 8-2. ASU called a timeout and won the next two points on a service error and Cyr kill. The Sun Devils started to claw their way back after Isanovic's second kill put the set within one, at 11-10. Four unanswered points from the Wildcats forced ASU to call a second timeout, which once again jolted ASU's offense, as Isanovic, Cyr and Levinska got a kill each. Inching back, the Wildcats regrouped with a timeout of their own, but were met with ASU's most convincing period of play, tying the set at 19 for the first time since it was scoreless. The set was knotted up at 20s and 21s, but the comeback effort fell short as the Wildcats took the first set.
Set Two: ASU 25, Arizona 20
ASU went neck-and-neck with Arizona for the majority of the set, with Levinska getting three of ASU's four points off kills to make it 6-7, Wildcats. Larson-Nummer's three-straight service aces provided a set-tying 13th point and two go-ahead points to cap off a 5-0 run. Sensing danger, Arizona took a breather, but ASU continued to hold the lead they would carry for the remainder of the set. Arizona took three of the next six, forcing a Sun Devils timeout to retain control. The Wildcats' breather would end with Isanovic's seventh kill and Levinska's sixth, sustaining the effort to go even on set wins.
Set Three: ASU 26, Arizona 24
The Sun Devils strolled to a 12-4 lead, thanks to four Levinska kills and three from Isanovic. Arizona battled back, however, as Snyder's kill was ASU's only point between the Wildcats' six to make it a three-point set at 13-10. Jeter's versatility with a kill and service ace back-to-back replenished a piece of ASU's lead of five. Arizona chipped away, ultimately tying the set at 20. Jeter notched another kill, as did Isanovic for a 23-22 lead. Two kills from the Wildcats supplied them with the lead at 24-23, urging Tomasevic to take a timeout. The message in the huddle was received and executed as a service error, Levinska kill and a Wildcats' hit into the net drove home a second set for the Sun Devils.
Set Four: ASU 25, Arizona 20
The momentum was all ASU to start the fourth set. After the Sun Devils went up 5-0, the Wildcats were forced to call a timeout, with an Arizona attacking error gifting the Sun Devils their sixth-straight point. The Wildcats jumped to a 10-7 score after a 4-0 run, but Isanovic put a pin in the streak with a kill to keep a lead of four. A joint block from Stahlke and Snyder ignited a 6-0 run to put the set at a wide 17-9 lead. The Sun Devils would acquaint themselves with a lead of eight, leading by that much on six separate occasions. The lead was helped along greatly by errors on the Wildcats' side, as well as two kills from Isanovic and Cyr, each. Arizona put pressure on at the end, going on a 5-1 run, but Cyr's 15th kill would clinch the win.
Up Next
Arizona State will travel to Boulder to take on Colorado on Sunday at noon MST. It will be live on Pac-12 Insider.
"Really proud of the showing tonight," Arizona State Head Coach Sanja Tomasevic said. "I loved the way Ella ran the offense, and on the defensive side I thought we did really well following the scouting report and executing the plan. We had four people get double-digit points and it's tough to stop us when we have that. I'm proud of the girls and the grit and confidence they showed even when things were not going our way. We get to enjoy this win for a day and then we have to prepare for another really good Pac-12 team."
Notable Stats
- ASU's (7-6, 1-0 Pac-12) four-set victory over Arizona (10-2, 0-1 Pac-12) marks the Wildcats' first defeat at home of the season. It is also Arizona State's first win in Tucson since 2019.
- With this win, Arizona State strikes first in the Territorial Cup Series. Sun Devil Volleyball earns a half point with the win. The other half point is up for grabs in Tempe on November 26.
- The Sun Devils out-hit the Cats .311 to .208. Three of the four ASU players with 10-plus attacks hit over .300 in the win.
- Senior outside hitter Iman Isanovic led all players in kills with 18, adding 12 digs for her sixth double-double of the season. Joining her in double figures in kills were Marta Levinska with 17 and Geli Cyr with 15, a career high for the sophomore.
- Senior libero Annika Larson-Nummer reached double-digit digs for the second match in a row in as many starts this season. She matched her season high with 25 digs. She also had a team-high three aces, a season high.
- Pacing the offense was junior Ella Snyder with a season high in assists with 45. She also had 10 digs for her second double-double of the fall.
- Both middle blockers saw success at the net, with Claire Jeter and Claudia Stahlke both notching four blocks to lead the Sun Devils. Jeter also added seven kills in the winning effort.
ZERO PITY ??????
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) September 22, 2022
What a win??#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/D3u6hmXaEM
Set One: Arizona 25, ASU 23
The Sun Devils fell behind early, 8-2. ASU called a timeout and won the next two points on a service error and Cyr kill. The Sun Devils started to claw their way back after Isanovic's second kill put the set within one, at 11-10. Four unanswered points from the Wildcats forced ASU to call a second timeout, which once again jolted ASU's offense, as Isanovic, Cyr and Levinska got a kill each. Inching back, the Wildcats regrouped with a timeout of their own, but were met with ASU's most convincing period of play, tying the set at 19 for the first time since it was scoreless. The set was knotted up at 20s and 21s, but the comeback effort fell short as the Wildcats took the first set.
But HOW?!?!?! ??????#NCAAWVB #SCtop10 x ?? @SunDevilVB pic.twitter.com/qEKA0LqWdy
— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) September 22, 2022
Set Two: ASU 25, Arizona 20
ASU went neck-and-neck with Arizona for the majority of the set, with Levinska getting three of ASU's four points off kills to make it 6-7, Wildcats. Larson-Nummer's three-straight service aces provided a set-tying 13th point and two go-ahead points to cap off a 5-0 run. Sensing danger, Arizona took a breather, but ASU continued to hold the lead they would carry for the remainder of the set. Arizona took three of the next six, forcing a Sun Devils timeout to retain control. The Wildcats' breather would end with Isanovic's seventh kill and Levinska's sixth, sustaining the effort to go even on set wins.
Set Three: ASU 26, Arizona 24
The Sun Devils strolled to a 12-4 lead, thanks to four Levinska kills and three from Isanovic. Arizona battled back, however, as Snyder's kill was ASU's only point between the Wildcats' six to make it a three-point set at 13-10. Jeter's versatility with a kill and service ace back-to-back replenished a piece of ASU's lead of five. Arizona chipped away, ultimately tying the set at 20. Jeter notched another kill, as did Isanovic for a 23-22 lead. Two kills from the Wildcats supplied them with the lead at 24-23, urging Tomasevic to take a timeout. The message in the huddle was received and executed as a service error, Levinska kill and a Wildcats' hit into the net drove home a second set for the Sun Devils.
Set Four: ASU 25, Arizona 20
The momentum was all ASU to start the fourth set. After the Sun Devils went up 5-0, the Wildcats were forced to call a timeout, with an Arizona attacking error gifting the Sun Devils their sixth-straight point. The Wildcats jumped to a 10-7 score after a 4-0 run, but Isanovic put a pin in the streak with a kill to keep a lead of four. A joint block from Stahlke and Snyder ignited a 6-0 run to put the set at a wide 17-9 lead. The Sun Devils would acquaint themselves with a lead of eight, leading by that much on six separate occasions. The lead was helped along greatly by errors on the Wildcats' side, as well as two kills from Isanovic and Cyr, each. Arizona put pressure on at the end, going on a 5-1 run, but Cyr's 15th kill would clinch the win.
Biggest shoutout to @942Crew for bringing the energy down south??#ForksUp /// #SunDevilFamily pic.twitter.com/IDgjFVH7Fj
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) September 22, 2022
Up Next
Arizona State will travel to Boulder to take on Colorado on Sunday at noon MST. It will be live on Pac-12 Insider.