TEMPE – A historical 2024 season came to an end on Saturday night for No. 3 seed Sun Devil Volleyball as it fell in four sets to No. 6 seed Texas A&M (25-19, 22-25, 25-15, 25-22) in Desert Financial Arena to end the postseason run in the second round.
Notable Stats
The match began with both sides splitting the first 10 points before the Sun Devils took the lead 7-5 with help from an ace by Jeter. The Aggies quickly tied it up again, 8-8, to then take an 11-8 lead. The Sun Devils stopped their 4-0 scoring run, tying it at, 12-12, with a pair of kills and a block from Kjolhede. Texas A&M didn't cool down, however, getting a 17-13 lead over ASU and forcing its first timeout. After Arizona State added on three more with two kills from Rabelo and Cyr to make the deficit 18-16, Texas A&M grew its lead to 20-16 and pushed ASU to call another timeout to slow things down. A&M soon found themselves at set point, 24-17, after a 3-0 run. The Sun Devils held off a few set points, but the Aggies ended up clinching the first set 25-19.
Set Two: ASU 25, Texas A&M 22
The Sun Devils led off the second set up 8-5 with kills from Cromartie, Rabelo, and Cyr plus a block and an ace from Jeter. The Aggies rapidly tied it up 9-9, but ASU would get back-to-back kills from Cromartie and Jeter to get the lead back, 11-9. ASU grew the lead, 15-12, with a block from Jeter and three kills from the Sun Devils. ASU continued to attack and A&M called for a timeout, looking to kill Arizona State's momentum. It proved to be no help, as the Sun Devils pushed the advantage to 20-14. The Aggies went on a 3-0 scoring run to make it 21-18 before the home team called for a timeout. Back-to-Back kills by Rabelo put ASU at set point, 24-20. A service error by the Aggies gave ASU the final point, 25-22, and the Sun Devils tied up the match 1-1.
Set Three: Texas A&M 25, ASU 15
Texas A&M started off this third set hot on a 3-0 scoring run to make it 8-3, forcing ASU into an early timeout. The Sun Devils managed to put the ball away at times, but the Aggies stretched their advantage to 17-7, another Sun Devil's timeout following. Texas A&M reached a 24-14 lead over ASU to obtain set point. The Aggies won the set 25-15 for a 2-1 match lead.
Set Four: Texas A&M 25, ASU 22
The two teams traded points before a kill by Cyr and two blocks by Kjolhede gave the Sun Devils an 8-5 lead. The Aggies tied the set 10-10, but ASU went on a 3-0 run to go up 13-10. Texas A&M evened things up again, 14-14, before ASU got the lead back, 17-14, with help of back-to-back kills from Cyr. Kills from Kjolhede and Cromartie and a block from Jeter helped drive ASU to a 20-17 lead. The Aggies cut the lead to one, pushing ASU to call a timeout. Texas A&M continued to build off their momentum and took control, 22-20. The Sun Devils tackled on two, but the Aggies reached set point, 24-22. An ace won Texas A&M the set, 25-22, and the the match, 3-1.
Notable Stats
- Arizona State (30-3, 17-1 Big 12) fell to Texas A&M (21-7, 10-6 SEC). The Aggies hit .303 in their win, compared to the Sun Devils' .181.
- This was the last collegiate match for graduates Shania Cromartie, Claire Jeter, Savannah Kjolhede, Roberta Rabelom Mary Shroll, Argentina Ung and senior Geli Cyr.
- The Sun Devils fall to 12-21 overall in the NCAA Tournament.
- Arizona State had 11 blocks, the second match in a row in double figures and ninth this season.
- Outside hitter Cyr led the team in kills with 14, her 22nd match of the year in double figures. She also had eight digs.
- Libero Shroll had a team-high 12 digs, her 31st match with double-digit kills this year. She's had 10 or more in all but two matches this season.
- At setter, Ung had 31 assists and eight digs with four blocks.
- Another Sun Devil with double-digit kills was Cromartie with 10. She added seven digs as well.
- The remaining seniors Jeter, Kjolhede and Rabelo all contributed, getting six, five and six kills, respectively. Kjolhede led the blocking charge with six, Jeter not far behind with five.
- Attendance at the match was 3,322, the 10th match this season with more than 3,000 in attendance at a home match. It is also the sixth-straight home match with more than 3,000.
The match began with both sides splitting the first 10 points before the Sun Devils took the lead 7-5 with help from an ace by Jeter. The Aggies quickly tied it up again, 8-8, to then take an 11-8 lead. The Sun Devils stopped their 4-0 scoring run, tying it at, 12-12, with a pair of kills and a block from Kjolhede. Texas A&M didn't cool down, however, getting a 17-13 lead over ASU and forcing its first timeout. After Arizona State added on three more with two kills from Rabelo and Cyr to make the deficit 18-16, Texas A&M grew its lead to 20-16 and pushed ASU to call another timeout to slow things down. A&M soon found themselves at set point, 24-17, after a 3-0 run. The Sun Devils held off a few set points, but the Aggies ended up clinching the first set 25-19.
Set Two: ASU 25, Texas A&M 22
The Sun Devils led off the second set up 8-5 with kills from Cromartie, Rabelo, and Cyr plus a block and an ace from Jeter. The Aggies rapidly tied it up 9-9, but ASU would get back-to-back kills from Cromartie and Jeter to get the lead back, 11-9. ASU grew the lead, 15-12, with a block from Jeter and three kills from the Sun Devils. ASU continued to attack and A&M called for a timeout, looking to kill Arizona State's momentum. It proved to be no help, as the Sun Devils pushed the advantage to 20-14. The Aggies went on a 3-0 scoring run to make it 21-18 before the home team called for a timeout. Back-to-Back kills by Rabelo put ASU at set point, 24-20. A service error by the Aggies gave ASU the final point, 25-22, and the Sun Devils tied up the match 1-1.
Set Three: Texas A&M 25, ASU 15
Texas A&M started off this third set hot on a 3-0 scoring run to make it 8-3, forcing ASU into an early timeout. The Sun Devils managed to put the ball away at times, but the Aggies stretched their advantage to 17-7, another Sun Devil's timeout following. Texas A&M reached a 24-14 lead over ASU to obtain set point. The Aggies won the set 25-15 for a 2-1 match lead.
Set Four: Texas A&M 25, ASU 22
The two teams traded points before a kill by Cyr and two blocks by Kjolhede gave the Sun Devils an 8-5 lead. The Aggies tied the set 10-10, but ASU went on a 3-0 run to go up 13-10. Texas A&M evened things up again, 14-14, before ASU got the lead back, 17-14, with help of back-to-back kills from Cyr. Kills from Kjolhede and Cromartie and a block from Jeter helped drive ASU to a 20-17 lead. The Aggies cut the lead to one, pushing ASU to call a timeout. Texas A&M continued to build off their momentum and took control, 22-20. The Sun Devils tackled on two, but the Aggies reached set point, 24-22. An ace won Texas A&M the set, 25-22, and the the match, 3-1.