TEMPE – No. 2 seed Sun Devil Volleyball is going to its second NCAA Regional Semifinals in three years after defeating Utah State in four sets (25-15, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15) Friday night.
Arizona State will head to the Kentucky Regional and will face No. 3 seed Creighton next Thursday or Friday. Date and time are to be determined.
Notable stats
- Arizona State improves to 28-3 on the year. That is tied for the second-most wins in team history this century, third most all-time.
- This is the fourth trip to regional semifinals (third round) in program history, second in the last three years. The other years were 2023, 1995 and 1994.
- For the Sun Devils, this is the second time in school history winning two matches in the NCAA Tournament, both under head coach JJ Van Niel. The program record improves to 14-21, 5-2 under Van Niel.
- Arizona State finishes the year undefeated at home (16-0) for the second time in team history, first in the NCAA era.
- ASU has won 10 matches in a row, which is the second double-digit win streak this season, seventh in program history.
- The Sun Devils hit a season-high .419 in the win, the third time this season hitting over .400, second in a row.
- Senior outside hitter Bailey Miller led the team in kills with 18 on a .471 clip. It was her 22nd match in double figures this season, including 15 of the last 16. She also had three aces and nine digs.
- Right behind Miller in kill total was junior opposite Noemie Glover with 17 while hitting .531 with no errors. This was her 19th match in a row with double-digit kills, which is all but once this season. She added three blocks as well.
- Senior outside hitter Tatum Parrott had her ninth match with double-digit kills this season, earning 13. She also had six digs.
- Leading all players in digs was sophomore libero Faith Frame with 13. This was her fifth-straight match with double-digit digs, 19th this season.
- Setters Sydney Henry and Brynn Covell had 32 and 16 assists, respectively. Henry had six digs and Covell and seven.
Set one: ASU 25, USU 15
The set started off with a back-and-forth battle with both teams tied early on at 3-3. An ace by Miller and a kill by Glover snagged the lead for ASU, 5-3. Utah State answered back with a kill before ASU capitalized on an error, growing the lead 12-9. Back-to-back kills by Miller grew the lead for the Sun Devils to 14-9, forcing the Aggies to take a timeout. ASU went on a 3-0 run with a kill by Parrott to add to the advantage, 17-13. Utah State took its second time out of the set after a kill by Glover, pushing the ASU lead to 19-14. Arizona State went on 5-0 run with a service ace from Jillian Neal and a kill by Parrott to bring the Sun Devils to set point, 24-14. A kill by Ella Lomigora secured the first set for ASU, 25-15.
Set two: ASU 25, USU 18
ASU went on a quick 3-0 run to start the second set with a block from Henry and a kill by Miller. However, the Aggies quickly answered back with back-to-back kills to shorten the lead, 4-3. The Sun Devils widened the gap, up 12-7, with kills from both Parrott and Miller. Utah State continued to rally with Arizona State, but a kill by Glover pushed the lead to 15-10. Kills from both Kiylah Presley and Parrott grew the ASU lead to 18-11, forcing a Utah State timeout. The Aggies pushed back after the timeout with three kills and an ace, closing the margin to 22-17. A dig from Faith Frame followed by a kill from Presley pushed ASU to 23-17. Arizona State took the second match, 25-18 with a kill from Glover, her ninth of the night.
Set three: USU 25, ASU 22
Utah State capitalized on some errors to take an early 6-4 lead. The Sun Devils quickly answered back with a block from Colby Neal and a service ace from Lomigora, tying the Aggies 9-9. A few errors pushed the Aggies ahead until kills from both Glover and Colby Neal closed the gap, 14-13. After two kills by Utah State, a kill by Parrott and two errors helped Arizona State tie the set, 17-17. A kill from Lomigora and Miller gave the Sun Devils the lead 19-18 after an Aggie timeout. Arizona State continued to go back-and-forth until a Utah State kill took the lead 22-21. Two back-to-back kills brought the Aggies to set point 24-22. Utah State took the third set 25-22 after an ASU error.
Set four: ASU 25, USU 15
The Sun Devils started the third set with back-to-back kills from Glover and Miller, taking the lead 2-0. A quick response from the Aggies closed the lead 4-3. Utah State continued to rally back until an error and a kill from Glover widened the gap for ASU, 11-9. A 3-0 ASU run with a kill from Parrott forced a Utah State timeout. Three-straight Sun Devil kills pushed a 16-10 lead, with Glover scoring her 16th kill of the night. A service error from the Aggies and a kill from Miller took the Sun Devils to a nine-point lead, 21-12. A kill from Glover and Parrott brought Arizona State to match point, 24-15. ASU took the fourth set 25-15, after an error from Utah State.
Up next
Arizona State will advance to the third round of the NCAA Tournament, heading to the Kentucky Regional. The dates are to be determined, but it will be either Dec. 11 or Dec. 12.