TEMPE – Back home to wrap up non-conference play, No. 8 Sun Devil Volleyball is hosting the Sun Devil Classic this week at Desert Financial Arena, playing Pepperdine on Friday, Grand Canyon on Saturday and Milwaukee on Sunday.
How to follow
There will be six matches during the Sun Devil Classic. The schedule is as follows (ASU matches in bold):
- 9/18 (Thu): GCU vs. Pepperdine (6 p.m.)
- 9/19 (Fri): Milwaukee vs. GCU (3 p.m.)
- 9/19 (Fri): ASU vs. Pepperdine (6 p.m.)
- 9/20 (Sat): Pepperdine vs. Milwaukee (2 p.m.)
- 9/20 (Sat): ASU vs. Grand Canyon, (5 p.m.) - Education Appreciation Night
- 9/21 (Sun): ASU vs. Milwaukee (1 p.m.) - Camper Reunion
All of the ASU matches will be streamed on ESPN+, with live stats as well. The neutral site matches will not be streamed. Updates will be provided on social media on X (@SunDevilVB) and Instagram (@sundevilvolleyball). For more fan information, check out the 2025 fan guide.
Sun Devil outlook
Arizona State (6-2, 0-0 Big 12)
- The Sun Devils went 2-1 last weekend, beating Texas State and Incarnate Word before falling at No. 2 Texas.
- Senior outside hitters Bailey Miller and Tatum Parrott have leveled up in the past few weeks. They each have notched double-digit kills for five-straight matches. Last weekend, they were named to the Texas State Invitational All-Tournament Team. Each had two double-doubles in the two wins in San Marcos. On the year, Miller leads the team in kills (96), followed closely by Parrott (85).
- With a No. 8 ranking this week, ASU has been ranked in 30-consecutive polls, a new program record. During this streak, the Sun Devils have been ranked in the top 10 seven times, with the highest ranking being No. 7 earlier this season. The entire streak has been under head coach JJ Van Niel, with the first ranking coming back on September 25, 2023 in his first season.
Opponent outlook
- Pepperdine (4-3) had one match over the weekend, beating Lipscomb in Malibu. The Waves will play UC Santa Barbara on the road on Tuesday before traveling to Tempe. In the all-time series against ASU, Pepperdine leads 6-5. The last meeting was in 2016, which the Waves won.
- Grand Canyon (6-2) played in the Husker Invitational last weekend, beating Drake in five sets before falling to No. 1 Nebraska. The Sun Devils have never lost to the Lopes in seven meetings.
- Milwaukee (0-9) has yet to win a match this season, most recently dropping three at home. MKE will play DePaul at home on Wednesday before making the trip to Arizona State. The Panthers and the Sun Devils have met just once in program history, with ASU winning in four sets back in 2011.