IRVING, Texas – After winning the conference title, No. 8 Sun Devil Volleyball took home the most Big 12 awards with JJ Van Niel winning Big 12 Coach of the Year, Mary Shroll earning Big 12 Libero of the Year and Argentina Ung taking Big 12 Setter of the Year, with five all-conference honors as well, as announced on Tuesday.
In addition to the major awards, Arizona State has four on the All-Big 12 First Team with Geli Cyr, Claire Jeter, Shroll and Ung and one on the second team in Savannah Kjolhede. The five on all-conference teams is tied with last season for the most in a single season in team history. The two major position conference awards are the first two for the program. For the complete list of Big 12 winners, head to the conference website.
Van Niel is the second head coach in program history to win two coach of the year honors, along with Patti Snyder (1992, 1990), but he is the only coach to win in consecutive years. This honor makes him one of only 16 head coaches in the history of Sun Devil Athletics to win back-to-back conference coach of the year honors. He is the first to accomplish the feat since Tim McCormack was named Pac-12 Lacrosse Coach of the Year in both 2021 & 2022. Included on this exclusive list are legendary head coaches Linda Vollstedt, Jim Brock, John Spini, Zeke Jones and Greg Kraft.
The 2024 Big 12 Champions, this group helped Arizona State finish the regular season with a 29-2 record, going 17-1 in Big 12 play. The team is on a 17-match winning streak heading into the tournament. The 29 wins are the most this century and two wins away from the most all-time (31 in 1982). Additionally, ASU has 19 sweeps this year, one away from the program record. The Sun Devils went undefeated at home in the regular season for the first time since becoming an NCAA sport.
On defense, graduate libero Mary Shroll has led the charge all year, ranking in the top two all throughout the season in digs and digs per set in the Big 12. She is currently at 495 digs and has had double-digit digs in all but two matches all season. She won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week three times and along with Cyr was named to the AVCA National Player of the Year Watchlist.
Pacing the offense all season has been graduate setter Argentina Ung, who was a grad transfer for Arizona State. In her lone season in Tempe, she has made an impact, helping ASU hit .277 on the year, top 20 in the nation for hitting percentage. Ung has dished out over 1,000 assists and surpassed 3,000 career assists this season. A force on defense as well, she has 13 double-doubles and is second on the team in digs. She was a unanimous first team selection.
Senior outside hitter Geli Cyr led the team in kills with 353. That number is a new season high for her, notching double-digit kills in all but eight matches. She also has had 10 double-doubles and was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on October 1. For Cyr's efforts, she earned a spot on the AVCA National Player of the Year Watchlist.
The two middle blockers all season have been graduates Claire Jeter and Savannah Kjolhede. Jeter in her fourth season in Tempe earned 246 kills (third on the team) and 93 blocks. She was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on November 12 and has been ranked in the top 10 in the nation all season for her hitting percentage, currently at .428. Kjolhede, a graduate transfer, notched a team-best 108 blocks as well as 196 kills on the year. Her hitting percentage of .366 is second on the team.
SUN DEVIL CONFERENCE COACHES OF THE YEAR IN BACK-TO-BACK SEASONS
BASEBALL
Pat Murphy (2009, 2008, 2007)
Jim Brock (1982, 1981)
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Walt Drenth (2000, 1999)
MEN'S DIVING
Mark Bradshaw (2011, 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003)
MEN'S GOLF
Randy Lein (2000, 1999*, 1995, 1996)
Steve Loy (1990, 1989)
WOMEN'S GOLF
Melissa Luellen (2007, 2006)
Linda Vollstedt (1995, 1994, 1993)
WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS
John Spini (1996*, 1995*, 1994*)
LACROSSE
Tim McCormack (2021, 2022)
WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
Greg Kraft (2008, 2007, 2006)
VOLLEYBALL
JJ Van Niel (2023, 2024)
WRESTLING
Zeke Jones (2020, 2018, 2017)
Thom Ortiz (2006, 2005)
Lee Roy Smith (1998, 1997)
Bobby Douglas (1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985)
In addition to the major awards, Arizona State has four on the All-Big 12 First Team with Geli Cyr, Claire Jeter, Shroll and Ung and one on the second team in Savannah Kjolhede. The five on all-conference teams is tied with last season for the most in a single season in team history. The two major position conference awards are the first two for the program. For the complete list of Big 12 winners, head to the conference website.
Van Niel is the second head coach in program history to win two coach of the year honors, along with Patti Snyder (1992, 1990), but he is the only coach to win in consecutive years. This honor makes him one of only 16 head coaches in the history of Sun Devil Athletics to win back-to-back conference coach of the year honors. He is the first to accomplish the feat since Tim McCormack was named Pac-12 Lacrosse Coach of the Year in both 2021 & 2022. Included on this exclusive list are legendary head coaches Linda Vollstedt, Jim Brock, John Spini, Zeke Jones and Greg Kraft.
BACK-TO-BACK COACH OF THE YEAR ??
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) December 3, 2024
Congratulations to @jjvanniel for being named @Big12Conference Coach of the Year! ??#ForksUp pic.twitter.com/IVCK4QhE0m
The 2024 Big 12 Champions, this group helped Arizona State finish the regular season with a 29-2 record, going 17-1 in Big 12 play. The team is on a 17-match winning streak heading into the tournament. The 29 wins are the most this century and two wins away from the most all-time (31 in 1982). Additionally, ASU has 19 sweeps this year, one away from the program record. The Sun Devils went undefeated at home in the regular season for the first time since becoming an NCAA sport.
On defense, graduate libero Mary Shroll has led the charge all year, ranking in the top two all throughout the season in digs and digs per set in the Big 12. She is currently at 495 digs and has had double-digit digs in all but two matches all season. She won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week three times and along with Cyr was named to the AVCA National Player of the Year Watchlist.
NEVER A DOUBT ??
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) December 3, 2024
Congratulations to @mshroll9 for being named @Big12Conference Libero of the Year! ??#ForksUp pic.twitter.com/WHzhKcUfE0
Pacing the offense all season has been graduate setter Argentina Ung, who was a grad transfer for Arizona State. In her lone season in Tempe, she has made an impact, helping ASU hit .277 on the year, top 20 in the nation for hitting percentage. Ung has dished out over 1,000 assists and surpassed 3,000 career assists this season. A force on defense as well, she has 13 double-doubles and is second on the team in digs. She was a unanimous first team selection.
THAT'S OUR SETTER ??
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) December 3, 2024
Congratulations to @argeentinaung for being named @Big12Conference Setter of the Year! ??#ForksUp pic.twitter.com/Y1V6sdm7p2
Senior outside hitter Geli Cyr led the team in kills with 353. That number is a new season high for her, notching double-digit kills in all but eight matches. She also has had 10 double-doubles and was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on October 1. For Cyr's efforts, she earned a spot on the AVCA National Player of the Year Watchlist.
The two middle blockers all season have been graduates Claire Jeter and Savannah Kjolhede. Jeter in her fourth season in Tempe earned 246 kills (third on the team) and 93 blocks. She was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on November 12 and has been ranked in the top 10 in the nation all season for her hitting percentage, currently at .428. Kjolhede, a graduate transfer, notched a team-best 108 blocks as well as 196 kills on the year. Her hitting percentage of .366 is second on the team.
SUN DEVIL CONFERENCE COACHES OF THE YEAR IN BACK-TO-BACK SEASONS
BASEBALL
Pat Murphy (2009, 2008, 2007)
Jim Brock (1982, 1981)
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Walt Drenth (2000, 1999)
MEN'S DIVING
Mark Bradshaw (2011, 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003)
MEN'S GOLF
Randy Lein (2000, 1999*, 1995, 1996)
Steve Loy (1990, 1989)
WOMEN'S GOLF
Melissa Luellen (2007, 2006)
Linda Vollstedt (1995, 1994, 1993)
WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS
John Spini (1996*, 1995*, 1994*)
LACROSSE
Tim McCormack (2021, 2022)
WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
Greg Kraft (2008, 2007, 2006)
VOLLEYBALL
JJ Van Niel (2023, 2024)
WRESTLING
Zeke Jones (2020, 2018, 2017)
Thom Ortiz (2006, 2005)
Lee Roy Smith (1998, 1997)
Bobby Douglas (1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985)