TEMPE – No. 2 seed Arizona State swept Coppin State (25-11, 25-14, 25-12) Thursday night at Desert Financial Arena to move on to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Arizona State will face Utah State in the second round at home Friday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. MST.
Notable Stats
- Arizona State (27-3, 17-1 Big 12) dominated in the first round by out-hitting Coppin State (23-12, 13-1 MEAC) .405 to -.082. This was the second time this season ASU has held an opponent to a negative hitting percentage and the ninth time an opponent hit below .100. For the Sun Devils, it was the second-best clip of the season.
- The Sun Devils improved to 4-2 in the NCAA Tournament under head coach JJ Van Niel. In program history, Arizona State is 13-21 in the NCAA Tournament.
- ASU has won 19 sets this season by a margin of 10 or more, adding three to that total tonight.
- Arizona State remains undefeated at home, improving to 15-0.
- The block showed up as usual for the Sun Devils, earning 11 in the win. It was the 11th match in a row with double-digit blocks, 21st on the year.
- Junior middle blocker Ella Lomigora led the blocking effort with nine in the win, one shy of her season high which she earned last match.
- Leading all players in kills was junior opposite Noemie Glover with 14. This was her 19th match in a row in double figures.
- The only player with double-digit digs was sophomore libero Faith Frame, notching 12. This is her fourth-straight match in double figures.
- Senior outside hitter Tatum Parrott had a well-rounded outing, earning five kills, five digs and a season-high five blocks.
- Setting duties were split between senior Sydney Henry and redshirt sophomore Brynn Covell, collecting 21 and 14, respectively. Between them, they had three aces, Covell earning two.
- Earning her first three kills of the season was sophomore middle blocker Zoey Burgess. She went 3 for 4.
Set one: ASU 25, Coppin State 11
Two service aces from Henry started off the first set. Coppin State answered back with a kill followed by a service error from ASU to bring the score to 5-4. The Sun Devils went on a 3-0 run after kills from both Parrott and Glover, pushing the lead for ASU, 11-4. Multiple errors from Coppin State forced the Eagles to trail 15-7. The Sun Devil defense refused to let much past them as a block from Lomigora and Parrott secured the 10-point lead at 19-9. Another block and a kill from Lomigora helped ASU steadily approach the end of the first set at 22-11. A Covell ace and Eagles error secured the first set for the Sun Devils, 25-11.
Set two: ASU 25, Coppin State 14
ASU sent a message to start the second set off 3-0 with kills from Colby Neal, Glover and Bailey Miller. A sly tip from Glover and Coppin State errors pushed ASU’s advantage to 6-2. Back-to-back kills from Kiylah Presley and Miller once again gave the Sun Devils a 13-6 edge. The Eagles began to find their rhythm going on a three-point run, cutting the deficit to 14-11. Two Colby Neal kills and a Parrott block kept ASU leading 17-12 as Coppin State called its final timeout of the set. The Sun Devils held their momentum going on a three-point run out of the timeout. Back-to-back kills from Burgess and Parrott held the advantage 22-13. Striking again, Burgess and Parrott finished off the set for ASU, 25-14
Set three: ASU 25, Coppin State 12
The Sun Devils struck hot with three kills from Glover to lead 4-1 early in the third set. A Colby Neal kill and Lomigora sneaky set forced a Coppin State timeout sitting at 8-2. The Eagles began to find a rhythm, but it wasn’t long before a Presley kill and block reinforced the lead at 13-5. Another block from Colby Neal and Parrott discouraged the Eagles as they called their final timeout trailing 19-10. Two kills from Glover and a strong strike from Burgess pushed ASU to 23-12. Two Coppin State errors closed out the third set for the Sun Devils
Up next
Arizona State will face Utah State on Friday at 6 p.m. MST. It will be live on ESPN+.