BOULDER, Colo. – In just the third loss of the season, No. 17 Sun Devil Volleyball struggled at Colorado, falling in straight sets (27-25, 25-18, 26-24) on Sunday afternoon.
Notable Stats
Set One: Colorado 27, ASU 25
The home team jumped out to a 10-2 run to start the match. However, the Sun Devils started chipping away at it, first with a 5-1 run that had two aces from Cyr to make it 11-7. Jeter's block got going, one solo block to get ASU within two, 16-14. Another one put the Devils down one, 19-18, before a huge swing from Shields tied it up. Colorado started to pull away again with a 4-1 run to get to set point, 21-24. Two aces from Jillian Neal sparked a 4-0 run to put ASU ahead and at set point, 25-24. However, the Buffs responded with three in a row to win the set 27-25.
Set Two: Colorado 25, ASU 18
After an early 3-0 lead for the Buffs, the Sun Devils tied it up with a kill from Roberta Rabelo at 4-4. The teams went back and forth for a while until Colorado scored four in a row to open up the set, up 15-11. Another run of four made it 20-14 for the home team. Shania Cromartie and Cyr got back-to-back kills to make it 21-17, but the Buffs ended the set on a 4-1 run to win 25-18 and go up 2-0 in the match.
Set Three: Colorado 26, ASU 24
Like the other two sets, Arizona State started behind. Back-to-back kills from Levinksa got ASU within one, down 5-4. The Buffs scored five-consecutive points to go up 11-5. The Sun Devils finally took the lead at 16-15 after a 5-0 run that saw two blocks from Jeter and Cyr. After Colorado took back the lead on a 4-1 run, back-to-back kills from Levinska put Arizona State back up at 21-10. The home team got to set point first, 24-22, but another Levinska kill and a block from Jeter and Cyr tied it at 24-24. Colorado won the set 26-24 on a block.
Up Next
Arizona State is finally back in Tempe after two weeks on the road. ASU will host Cal on Friday in Desert Financial Arena before bringing in No. 3 Stanford on Sunday in Mullett Arena.
Notable Stats
- Arizona State (19-3, 7-3 Pac-12) was swept for just the second time all season in the third loss of the year. ASU continues to struggle at elevation, now 1-8 in its last nine matches at Colorado (12-9, 4-6 Pac-12).
- In both the first and third sets, the Sun Devils trailed to start and came back to get a lead. However, both went to extra points and ASU was unable to complete the comeback.
- Senior opposite Marta Levinska led the Sun Devils in kills with 17 and in digs with season-high 14. This was the 24th double-double of her career, third of the season.
- Senior middle blocker Claire Jeter led the blocking effort with five, including two solo blocks. She added three kills.
- Pacing the offense, graduate setter Shannon Shields had 37 assists.
- Arizona State led in the service aces category 6-2. Junior Geli Cyr and freshman Jillian Neal both had two.
Set One: Colorado 27, ASU 25
The home team jumped out to a 10-2 run to start the match. However, the Sun Devils started chipping away at it, first with a 5-1 run that had two aces from Cyr to make it 11-7. Jeter's block got going, one solo block to get ASU within two, 16-14. Another one put the Devils down one, 19-18, before a huge swing from Shields tied it up. Colorado started to pull away again with a 4-1 run to get to set point, 21-24. Two aces from Jillian Neal sparked a 4-0 run to put ASU ahead and at set point, 25-24. However, the Buffs responded with three in a row to win the set 27-25.
Set Two: Colorado 25, ASU 18
After an early 3-0 lead for the Buffs, the Sun Devils tied it up with a kill from Roberta Rabelo at 4-4. The teams went back and forth for a while until Colorado scored four in a row to open up the set, up 15-11. Another run of four made it 20-14 for the home team. Shania Cromartie and Cyr got back-to-back kills to make it 21-17, but the Buffs ended the set on a 4-1 run to win 25-18 and go up 2-0 in the match.
Set Three: Colorado 26, ASU 24
Like the other two sets, Arizona State started behind. Back-to-back kills from Levinksa got ASU within one, down 5-4. The Buffs scored five-consecutive points to go up 11-5. The Sun Devils finally took the lead at 16-15 after a 5-0 run that saw two blocks from Jeter and Cyr. After Colorado took back the lead on a 4-1 run, back-to-back kills from Levinska put Arizona State back up at 21-10. The home team got to set point first, 24-22, but another Levinska kill and a block from Jeter and Cyr tied it at 24-24. Colorado won the set 26-24 on a block.
Up Next
Arizona State is finally back in Tempe after two weeks on the road. ASU will host Cal on Friday in Desert Financial Arena before bringing in No. 3 Stanford on Sunday in Mullett Arena.