TEMPE – Despite double-doubles from three different Sun Devils, No. 18 Sun Devil Volleyball came up short against No. 6 Oregon, falling in four sets (25-18, 26-24, 10-25, 25-23) in Desert Financial Arena on Friday night.
Notable Stats
Quotes
Head Coach JJ Van Niel
Opening Statement:
"That one hurts. We had opportunities that we just didn't capitalize on. We came out too slow. It's just a frustrating one. We have to turn around and get ready for a really good Oregon State team that's been playing quite well. They're taking everyone to five and they beat us last time. The attendance was great, so it was really awesome to get all the fans out there. It was a bummer to disappoint them. All we can do is turn around and get ready for Sunday's match."
On tonight's performance:
"There was quite a bit of mixed execution and we defended them really well. When you hold a team to .175, you should be able to beat them, especially when you're hitting .240. That was probably our worst serving performance. I thought in the first set we were serving lollipops. We kind of live and die on the serve and pass game and we just didn't execute. I've got to do a better job of preparing them because clearly, I didn't do a good job of getting them ready for this one."
On Geli's performance:
"Geli played really loose and aggressive. I'm really excited about how she played. She's been working really hard over the last couple of weeks and we saw it. She had 18 digs and she was really good. It was cool. Those back-row attacks were great. She was flying in there, being aggressive, and picking good lines of attack."
Libero Mary Shroll
On the slow start
"I think there's definitely instances that we could have turned our way, you know, taking care of easy balls, getting them on the net, taking care of overpasses. I think it's been our key all year is our serving, and that first set, we weren't serving tough and they were passing dimes, they were in system a lot. So, you know, it's difficult when a team that's physical is in system as much as they were in that first set. I really think that was the change at the end of set two, you know, set three, dominating was just serving tough, getting them out of system. And then we're able to play defense around, that our blockers are able to make a good move and get really good touches."
On battling back and not throwing the towel
"I think our team theme all year has been that, where we respond well to losses in sets. So I don't think it's ever a question in our minds of giving up or anything like that. We knew our backs were against the walls, and in that third set we just found our groove. We were serving tough, we were in system and we were the aggressors. I think that was the big thing in set three. So, I don't think it's ever a doubt in our mind like Geli said, we just need to find that consistency. Especially with the start; that first set is important and can dictate things."
On her season high in digs
"Something that's huge defensively, when our block is making really good moves. That third set, when they are able to trap the outside or go with the right side, when they (the block) set, it makes it so much easier to play defense around. So I have to credit the blockers, making those good touches. They had so many good touches tonight where it was like a free ball for me. It's a credit to all those blockers in the front row."
Outside Hitter Geli Cyr
On the slow start
"That third set was ASU volleyball and we know that we have to find our consistency. That is the main thing right now. We were so consistent in non-conference and the first part of the Pac, and now we have to find that again. I think it's obvious that we're all tired, everyone's tired, everyone who's playing right now is tired. Grit is our main word and we have to just dig in and play it from here on out. Like we know how."
On battling back and not throwing the towel
"I don't think I've ever been in a game we thought we might not win. We all come into that knowing the odds are stacked against us, no one thinks we're going to win, let's show them that we can. I think Marta said one time like we know we're good, it's just now about proving it, and tonight we didn't prove it. We need to get back in the gym, and I think a lot of things had to do with just simple ball control. That is not hard to change, which is good. And also a big thing is, I don't think that they beat us. I think we beat ourselves, and that's a good thing for us because we can work on that and we can go back in the gym and tweak little things and hear what JJ has to say, make changes. And then I think we're gonna be better from here on out."
On her strong performance
"So, last weekend I was mostly a defensive player. I was passing and digging and I wasn't hitting very well, and I was really tired of being the back-up man. I want to be someone who the scout looks at and is like, we have to get on her. So tonight, I was like, if the ball is coming to me, I'm freaking hitting it every single time. And it turns out their block wasn't really there on me. They were jumping with Claire, they were going to Marta, and so when in times of need, I have to be there for when Shannon needs me. So I hope that I can continue to build on tonight into the future."
Set One: Oregon 25, ASU 18
The Sun Devils and Ducks got off to an even start, never really letting one pad on to any lead. Shields stepped out of her comfort zone and attacked a kill of her own, making the set 15-14 ASU. The Ducks capitalized on errors from the home team to go on a 4-0 run, which ended up being the difference maker. Oregon's largest lead in the set led them to take the set 25-18.
Set Two: Oregon 26, ASU 24
The Sun Devils took their first lead of the evening at 5-4 thanks to an Oregon error, but the Ducks then responded and took the lead again which led to an ASU timeout. After Oregon built up a six-point lead, Cyr and Levinska lit the fire for the Devils when they started a comeback to get them within three. With the Ducks back up by five, the Devils called a timeout which seemed to give the momentum to Arizona State. With it tied at 24-24, a long rally originally called in favor of ASU was overturned after an Oregon challenge to give the visitors the 25-24 lead, which they would use to win 26-24.
Set Three: ASU 25, Oregon 10
The Sun Devils showed no fear down 2-0, dominating the third set. A bad serve from Oregon gave Arizona State the lead and they took off. A 7-2 lead from the home team forced a timeout from the Ducks. Back-to-back aces from Jeter gave ASU an 11-3 lead – the biggest any team had thus far. More errors from Oregon helped ASU's drive, leading them to wrap up the set. Cyr added seven digs and Marta had eight kills in the 25-10 set win.
Set Four: Oregon 25, ASU 23
Arizona State and Oregon almost rewrote the script from the second set. From the lead changes, ties and deficits, Oregon once again ended up on top after a hard fought battle. Tied at 6-6, the Ducks found a hole and went up by four, which led to an ASU timeout. Immediately after the timeout, Levinska ended a 5-0 run for the Ducks which began a 3-0 run for the Sun Devils, putting the score at 14-9 in favor of the visitors. The end of the match consisted of ASU trying to catch up and any momentum the Sun Devils would gain would be immediately killed by the Ducks. A block from Roberta Rabelo and Jeter would tie the set at 23 a piece, but Oregon took the set on an error.
Up Next
Arizona State will host Oregon State on Sunday at noon in Desert Financial Arena for the final home match of the season. The seniors will be honored right before the match.
Notable Stats
- Arizona State (24-5, 12-5 Pac-12) came up short against Oregon (23-5, 13-4 Pac-12) to split the season series after winning the first match last month in Eugene. This was ASU's first four-set loss of the year.
- This was Marta Levinska's fourth match in a row with 20-plus kills, collecting a match-high 26 on a .397 clip. She has had 14 matches in a row with double-digit kills. Additionally, she had 10 digs for her sixth double-double of the year, 27th in her career.
- ASU jumped from seventh to fifth for single season aces in program history, now with 201 after earning four tonight. Senior middle blocker Claire Jeter led the way with three of her own.
- Graduate libero Mary Shroll had a season-high 23 digs in the match to lead all players. That number is the best dig total by a Sun Devil this season, surpassing the previous high of 22 from Geli Cyr at Cal on October 1. This was Shroll's seventh match in a row with double-digit digs. Additionally, she had seven assists, a season high.
- Another Sun Devil with a double-double was graduate setter Shannon Shields with 38 assists and 10 digs. This was her eighth of the season, 18th of her career. She also tied her career high in kills with six.
- Junior outside hitter Geli Cyr notched her third double-double of the year, ninth of her career, with 10 kills and 18 digs. In three of the last four matches, she has had double-digit digs.
- Jeter led the team in both aces and blocks with three and seven, respectively. She also added five kills.
- The attendance was 3,937, which is the seventh-most ASU has had since 2013. This is the third match of the season in the top 10 for attendance, along with Arizona in third and Washington in sixth.
Quotes
Head Coach JJ Van Niel
Opening Statement:
"That one hurts. We had opportunities that we just didn't capitalize on. We came out too slow. It's just a frustrating one. We have to turn around and get ready for a really good Oregon State team that's been playing quite well. They're taking everyone to five and they beat us last time. The attendance was great, so it was really awesome to get all the fans out there. It was a bummer to disappoint them. All we can do is turn around and get ready for Sunday's match."
On tonight's performance:
"There was quite a bit of mixed execution and we defended them really well. When you hold a team to .175, you should be able to beat them, especially when you're hitting .240. That was probably our worst serving performance. I thought in the first set we were serving lollipops. We kind of live and die on the serve and pass game and we just didn't execute. I've got to do a better job of preparing them because clearly, I didn't do a good job of getting them ready for this one."
On Geli's performance:
"Geli played really loose and aggressive. I'm really excited about how she played. She's been working really hard over the last couple of weeks and we saw it. She had 18 digs and she was really good. It was cool. Those back-row attacks were great. She was flying in there, being aggressive, and picking good lines of attack."
Libero Mary Shroll
On the slow start
"I think there's definitely instances that we could have turned our way, you know, taking care of easy balls, getting them on the net, taking care of overpasses. I think it's been our key all year is our serving, and that first set, we weren't serving tough and they were passing dimes, they were in system a lot. So, you know, it's difficult when a team that's physical is in system as much as they were in that first set. I really think that was the change at the end of set two, you know, set three, dominating was just serving tough, getting them out of system. And then we're able to play defense around, that our blockers are able to make a good move and get really good touches."
On battling back and not throwing the towel
"I think our team theme all year has been that, where we respond well to losses in sets. So I don't think it's ever a question in our minds of giving up or anything like that. We knew our backs were against the walls, and in that third set we just found our groove. We were serving tough, we were in system and we were the aggressors. I think that was the big thing in set three. So, I don't think it's ever a doubt in our mind like Geli said, we just need to find that consistency. Especially with the start; that first set is important and can dictate things."
On her season high in digs
"Something that's huge defensively, when our block is making really good moves. That third set, when they are able to trap the outside or go with the right side, when they (the block) set, it makes it so much easier to play defense around. So I have to credit the blockers, making those good touches. They had so many good touches tonight where it was like a free ball for me. It's a credit to all those blockers in the front row."
Outside Hitter Geli Cyr
On the slow start
"That third set was ASU volleyball and we know that we have to find our consistency. That is the main thing right now. We were so consistent in non-conference and the first part of the Pac, and now we have to find that again. I think it's obvious that we're all tired, everyone's tired, everyone who's playing right now is tired. Grit is our main word and we have to just dig in and play it from here on out. Like we know how."
On battling back and not throwing the towel
"I don't think I've ever been in a game we thought we might not win. We all come into that knowing the odds are stacked against us, no one thinks we're going to win, let's show them that we can. I think Marta said one time like we know we're good, it's just now about proving it, and tonight we didn't prove it. We need to get back in the gym, and I think a lot of things had to do with just simple ball control. That is not hard to change, which is good. And also a big thing is, I don't think that they beat us. I think we beat ourselves, and that's a good thing for us because we can work on that and we can go back in the gym and tweak little things and hear what JJ has to say, make changes. And then I think we're gonna be better from here on out."
On her strong performance
"So, last weekend I was mostly a defensive player. I was passing and digging and I wasn't hitting very well, and I was really tired of being the back-up man. I want to be someone who the scout looks at and is like, we have to get on her. So tonight, I was like, if the ball is coming to me, I'm freaking hitting it every single time. And it turns out their block wasn't really there on me. They were jumping with Claire, they were going to Marta, and so when in times of need, I have to be there for when Shannon needs me. So I hope that I can continue to build on tonight into the future."
Set One: Oregon 25, ASU 18
The Sun Devils and Ducks got off to an even start, never really letting one pad on to any lead. Shields stepped out of her comfort zone and attacked a kill of her own, making the set 15-14 ASU. The Ducks capitalized on errors from the home team to go on a 4-0 run, which ended up being the difference maker. Oregon's largest lead in the set led them to take the set 25-18.
Set Two: Oregon 26, ASU 24
The Sun Devils took their first lead of the evening at 5-4 thanks to an Oregon error, but the Ducks then responded and took the lead again which led to an ASU timeout. After Oregon built up a six-point lead, Cyr and Levinska lit the fire for the Devils when they started a comeback to get them within three. With the Ducks back up by five, the Devils called a timeout which seemed to give the momentum to Arizona State. With it tied at 24-24, a long rally originally called in favor of ASU was overturned after an Oregon challenge to give the visitors the 25-24 lead, which they would use to win 26-24.
Set Three: ASU 25, Oregon 10
The Sun Devils showed no fear down 2-0, dominating the third set. A bad serve from Oregon gave Arizona State the lead and they took off. A 7-2 lead from the home team forced a timeout from the Ducks. Back-to-back aces from Jeter gave ASU an 11-3 lead – the biggest any team had thus far. More errors from Oregon helped ASU's drive, leading them to wrap up the set. Cyr added seven digs and Marta had eight kills in the 25-10 set win.
Set Four: Oregon 25, ASU 23
Arizona State and Oregon almost rewrote the script from the second set. From the lead changes, ties and deficits, Oregon once again ended up on top after a hard fought battle. Tied at 6-6, the Ducks found a hole and went up by four, which led to an ASU timeout. Immediately after the timeout, Levinska ended a 5-0 run for the Ducks which began a 3-0 run for the Sun Devils, putting the score at 14-9 in favor of the visitors. The end of the match consisted of ASU trying to catch up and any momentum the Sun Devils would gain would be immediately killed by the Ducks. A block from Roberta Rabelo and Jeter would tie the set at 23 a piece, but Oregon took the set on an error.
Up Next
Arizona State will host Oregon State on Sunday at noon in Desert Financial Arena for the final home match of the season. The seniors will be honored right before the match.