LAWRENCE, Kan. – Behind a season-high 25 kills from senior Noemie Glover, No. 8 Sun Devil Volleyball came back from down 2-0 at No. 17 Kansas to win a five-set thriller (17-25, 14-25, 25-22, 25-20, 15-10) in Allen Fieldhouse on Sunday afternoon.
Notable stats
- Arizona State (15-3, 6-1 Big 12) improved its winning streak against Kansas (12-5, 5-2 Big 12) to four in a row after completing the reverse sweep. It also was the second match in a row in this series to go to five sets, both in Lawrence.
- Head coach JJ Van Niel improved to 9-4 in five-set matches. This was the first reverse sweep during his tenure and the first ASU has had since 2022.
- The Sun Devils improved to 7-1 against ranked teams this season. This was Van Niel’s 23rd ranked win in his four seasons. Additionally, this is the sixth win in a row.
- Senior opposite hitter Noemie Glover shined during the national broadcast, earning a season-high and match-high 25 kills. This was her second match in a row with 20-plus kills and 12th-match in a row in double figures. In her career, this was her seventh match with 20 or more kills. It also was a career high in attempts (68).
- The block came alive in the back half of the match as Arizona State ended up totaling 14.5 in the win. This was the ninth time this season with double-digit blocks, including in five of the last six matches. Senior middle blocker Ella Lomigora tied her season best with eight blocks to lead all players. Fellow middle junior Zoey Burgess added five while three other players had four.
- The double-double machine of junior outside hitter Una Vajagić kept up her well-rounded play with 15 kills and 10 digs. This was her eighth double-double of the season, all of which have come in the last 10 matches. She now has 18 double-doubles in her career.
- Junior libero Faith Frame had a match-high 17 digs. This is her second match in a row in double figures, 11th this season.
- Setters senior Isabella Costantini and freshman Elle Mottola totaled 50 assists in the win. Costantini had 26 assists and 13 digs for her second double-double of the year, 25th of her career. Mottola had 11 assists and four blocks, the latter tying her personal best.
- Sophomore Maéva Schalk had seven kills, four digs and four blocks in the win. Her block total is a new career high.
Set one: Kansas 25, ASU 17
The Sun Devils started off strong, Glover earning three early kills to help ASU go up 6-2. However, the Jayhawks responded with a big 7-0 run with five aces to take the 9-6 lead. After another run of three for Kansas, Arizona State called its second timeout, down 12-7. The home team added three more to make it six in a row, ASU down 15-7 at the media timeout. The Sun Devils were able to score three in a row with two pin hitter kills and a block, making it 20-14. Glover added a few more points, but Kansas would win 25-17.
Set two: Kansas 25, ASU 14
In the second set, the teams traded points until Kansas scored five in a row to double it up, 10-5, and force an early ASU timeout. The Jayhawks made it seven straight until a kill from Vajagić ended the run, 12-6. Following some back and forth, Kansas went on a 4-0 run, which ended after a tip kill from junior middle blocker Antonina Serafinowska at 20-11. A few late kills from Vajagić and Glover got ASU some sideouts, but Kansas would take the 2-0 match lead after winning the set 25-14.
Set three: ASU 25, Kansas 22
An ace from freshman defensive specialist Paige Lehman gave ASU an early 4-1 lead. However, Kansas responded with three-straight points to tie it. The Sun Devils went on a 4-1 run with two kills from Glover to go up 11-8. Heading into the media timeout, the Jayhawks scored three in a row to go up 15-14. From there, the back and forth resumed until Arizona State went on a 5-1 run with three Kansas errors to extend the lead to 23-18. The Jayhawks battled back, scoring three-straight points to get within two, 23-21. However, a kill from Burgess got ASU to set point and a block from Burgess and Mottola sealed the win, 25-22.
Set four: ASU 25, Kansas 20
The close competition carried over to the fourth set. ASU created some space after scoring three in a row with a kill from Vajagic and two Kansas errors to make it 9-6 and force a timeout from the home team. After a solo block from Mottola, it was an 11-7 lead for the Sun Devils, and the Jayhawks called their second timeout. Kansas put together four-straight points to bring an ASU break, tied at 12-12. The Jayhawks got back on top after a 3-0 run, 18-17, but a kill from Vajagić knotted it up again. Two more kills from Vajagić and a block from Glover and Lomigora put the Sun Devils up 22-19. Arizona State closed out the set with three-straight points, all involving Glover, to win 25-20.
Set five: ASU 15, Kansas 10
Vajagić served ASU on a dominant 7-0 run to lead 7-2 to start the fifth set. Glover had three kills in that run. An ace from sophomore defensive specialist Ella Lewis made it a 10-4 advantage, bringing Kansas’ second timeout. Out of the break, the Jayhawks scored three in a row to close the gap, but after a Sun Devil timeout, they missed their serve for the timeout. The block stayed strong, with Burgess getting involved down the stretch, including a block with Mottola to set up match point at 14-10. Fittingly, a block from Lomigora and Vajagić completed the comeback, winning the fifth set 15-10.
Up next
Arizona State stays on the road next week, heading to Utah to take on the Utah Utes on October 22 before a top-20 matchup at BYU on October 24.
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