TEMPE – In front of 7,190 fans, No. 8 Sun Devil Volleyball defeated Arizona in four sets (26-24, 25-14, 23-25, 25-16) in the first matchup between these two schools across all sports this school year on Thursday night in Desert Financial Arena.
Notable stats
- Arizona State (14-3, 5-1 Big 12) beat Arizona (6-11, 1-5 Big 12) for the seventh match in a row. This is the longest streak in the rally-scoring era against the Wildcats.
- Head coach JJ Van Niel earned his 100th career win (100-17) tonight, making him the fastest coach in team history to reach 100 wins. He became the fourth Sun Devil Volleyball coach to reach the century mark, joining Jason Watson (2008-15), Patti Snyder-Park (1989-2002) and Debbie Brown (1983-88). He is also undefeated against Arizona.
- Attendance tonight was 7,190, the second-largest crowd this century for the Sun Devils. It is the third highest all-time.
- Another milestone tonight came for junior libero Faith Frame as she surpassed 1,000 career digs, earning a team-best 18 on the night. It upped her ASU total to 583 digs. This season, she has had double-digit digs 10 times.
- Senior opposite hitter Noemie Glover had a match-high 23 kills as well as a career-high 16 digs. This was her fourth double-double of her career, second this season. Additionally, it was her 11th-straight match with double-digit kills and second time this season with 20-plus kills (sixth time in her career).
- For her seventh double-double of the season, junior outside hitter Una Vajagić had 13 kills and 13 digs. This was her sixth-straight match with 10-plus digs as well as her fifth double-double in the last six matches.
- Senior setter Isabella Costantini dished out 32 assists, her fourth time this season with 30 or more assists. She also neared a double-double with eight digs and added an ace.
- A third Sun Devil with double-digit kills was graduate outside Aniya Clinton with 13. It was her seventh time this season in double figures.
- Junior middle blocker Zoey Burgess continued her streak of strong blocking, earning a team-high six tonight. She has had five or more blocks six times this season, including six or more in the last three matches.
- With the win, Arizona State earns half a point in the Territorial Cup Series. A chance to get the whole point will be in Tucson on November 15.
Set one: ASU 26, Arizona 24
To kick start the faceoff against the Wildcats, the Sun Devils took an early 4-1 lead, with an ace from Costantini and kill from senior middle blocker Ella Lomigora. Arizona tied it up at 8-8, but ASU kept its lead thanks to a kill from Vajagić. The Wildcats took the lead, 15-12, going into the media timeout. Arizona continued to build its lead, forcing Arizona State to use its first timeout at 18-14. A 3-0 run from the Sun Devils cut the Wildcats’ lead to one, causing Arizona to use a timeout at 19-18. The teams were tied up at 21-21 after a kill from Glover and an ace from Frame. The Wildcats found themselves within one after a 3-1 run, making the Sun Devils use their second timeout at 24-22. ASU tied the set at 24 all following a kill from Clinton and a block from Burgess and freshman setter Elle Mottola. An error from the Wildcats made it set point for the Sun Devils, causing Arizona to call its second timeout. ASU won the first set 26-24 after another error from Arizona.
Set two: ASU 25, Arizona 14
The Sun Devils took a 7-3 lead to open the second frame, causing the Wildcats to burn a timeout early. Coming out of the timeout, the Wildcats went on a 5-2 run, but back-to-back kills from Glover slowed Arizona’s momentum. The Sun Devils led 15-10 going into the media timeout after kills from Glover and Clinton. The Maroon and Gold went on a 6-2 run with a pair of kills from Clinton and service aces from both Glover and junior libero Piper Rama, causing Arizona to call its second timeout at 21-12. Despite the stop in play, the Sun Devils couldn’t be slowed, winning the set 25-14.
Set three: Arizona 25, ASU 23
The teams started the third set trading points back and forth until the Sun Devils went on a 4-1 run, causing the Wildcats to use a timeout at 11-8. Out of the timeout, Arizona tied the set at 12-12, but consecutive kills from Glover kept ASU’s lead. At the media timeout, the Sun Devils led 15-12, but the Wildcats responded with a 5-3 run, forcing ASU to call a timeout at 18-17. Arizona took the lead at 20-19, but after winning a back-and-forth rally, ASU tied it up 20 apiece. The Wildcats took a two-point lead, making the Sun Devils use their final timeout. Following a pair of kills from Glover, Arizona led by one and called its second timeout at 23-22. The Wildcats were able to hold on to their lead and won the set, 25-23.
Set four: ASU 25, Arizona 16
Junior middle blocker Antonina Serafinowska started the fourth set strong for the Sun Devils with two blocks and a kill, forcing the Wildcats to call an early timeout at 5-0. Coming out of the timeout, Arizona went on a 6-3 run, but a kill from Glover slowed the Wildcats down. The teams traded points back and forth, and the Sun Devils were able to hold on to a 15-12 lead at the media timeout. The Wildcats used their final timeout at 18-13, following kills from sophomore outside hitter Maéva Schalk and Glover and a block from Burgess and Vajagić. The Sun Devils extended their lead with a 6-2 run, which brought them to match point after a backrow attack from Glover. A kill from Vajagić won the set 25-16 for ASU.
Most Sun Devil Volleyball Wins
216-Patti Snyder-Park (1989-2002/14 seasons)
126-Jason Watson (2008-15/eight seasons)
117-Debbie Brown (1983-88/six seasons)
100-JJ Van Niel (2023-present/fourth season)
Up next
Arizona State will travel to No. 17 Kansas on Sunday for a top-20 matchup on ESPN. The match will begin at 10 a.m. MST/12 p.m. CDT.
Quotes
Head Coach JJ Van Niel
Opening statement:
“What a crowd. It was loud, it was a lot of fun. They did a good job for our team. I think we weren't playing quite as clean as we have been, and to still be able to find a way to win was great, especially after that third set. It was a little bit of a letdown, but we came back strong. We got back to our tough serving, and we got them in trouble and defended really well. So I'm proud of them.”
On Frame’s effort:
“She just extends plays. That one play shows it. We kind of dig a ball that looks like it's out, and she comes flying in, gets it up. And Aniya chases it, and it turns into a point. Her effort is as good as anyone in the country. She's all over, getting balls. I think if you're on her team, and you see your teammate doing that, you better have the same kind of effort. You’ve got to know that she might be getting this ball up, so you’ve got to pursue with her. She's awesome. Great kid.”
On the luxury of having players like Schalk and Serafinowska come in:
“It was huge. [Serafinowska] came in, and she had some huge plays. A really nice kill, a tip over the top that she's been working on. She had a stuff block and had some touches. It's nice to have people that can come off the bench and help you out and provide a little new energy. Sometimes kids are a little off, and they were able to get an eye on some trouble in serve receive. We knew Maéva could come in and she could score, she can pass, so she can play the game really well. So it's nice that she's back healthy. It's good.”
On the biggest takeaway from his 100th win:
“Probably gratefulness. Gratefulness to President Crow, Ray (Anderson), who brought me in here, and then Graham (Rossini) and Doctor (James) Rund also, when he was interim. Just believing that volleyball can do something and providing the resources. And then an unbelievable amount of humbleness because it's about the kids and my staff. I would not be here without the players that we've had, their dedication. And certainly not without my staff who puts me in my place when I need to be put in place and. And they just work really hard to help make this program great.”
Junior libero Faith Frame
On getting big digs to extend rallies and give the Sun Devils a chance to score:
“That's the point. That's what I'm trying to do. And JJ, before the game said, ‘Don't let them get it easy.’ So even when we're getting those digs and it ends up being their point at the end of the day, we still made them earn it. So that's really important and it still makes them work. They're still tired at the end of the point. Even getting those digs and not getting the point, it's still a plus for us.”
On what makes Van Niel so successful as a coach:
“I think it's just the standard that he instills in all of us. For me, I've never been with a coach who has such a high standard, and it doesn't waiver. I’ve said that before, but it truly doesn't change day by day. The standard is the standard, and he expects a lot from us. He pushes us really hard, but at the end of the day, that's what's going to make us all better, and we've all seen improvements in a lot of our playing. So he's just a really special coach.”
On how her family has supported her on her way to 1,000 career digs:
“My parents have a really good work ethic, and they've instilled that in me, and that's kind of my role on the team. The libero is supposed to give it all they have and not let the ball hit the floor. So I think it's just really important that you do that every single play. If you see a ball and you don't even think you can get there, at least go for it. And my parents have always made me work for everything, and I think that's really helped me now. It means everything. They drove 19 hours, which is obviously a crazy drive, and they brought my dog, so that was really exciting too. They mean the world to me, and they're literally the best parents in the world, and I couldn't be doing the things I'm doing right now without them. I appreciate them so much.”
Senior setter Isabella Costantini
On what she looks for in her hitters:
“Confidence. Something that we always talk about is eye contact. As a setter, whenever I see a hitter that's ready to put the ball away, even if she doesn't, it gives me confidence knowing I can trust her. Also our coaching staff; JJ has been really supportive. He gives a quick look or he's telling me to stay calm and who my options are offensively so I can be a leader on the court.”
On the emotions of her first game in the Territorial Cup Series:
“At the beginning, I was nervous. I don't think I've ever played in front of such a big crowd ever in my life so it was nice. It definitely made me a little bit nervous at the beginning, but I loved it. It was so loud in there, you can see the fans' passion and their support, it was just great.”
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