TEMPE – All three pin hitters notched double-digit kills as No. 12 Sun Devil Volleyball beat Iowa State in a 3-1 win (25-18, 25-18, 22-25, 25-14) at home on Sunday afternoon.
Notable stats
- Arizona State (11-3, 2-1 Big 12) handed Iowa State (8-6, 2-1 Big 12) its first conference loss, holding the Cyclones to a .119 hitting percentage.
- ASU recorded double-digit blocks for the second match in a row (sixth time this season), earning 10. Senior middle blocker Ella Lomigora led the Sun Devils in blocks with five.
- Junior outside hitter Una Vajagić recorded double-digit kills with 18 while hitting .371, her eighth match in a row reaching double figures (12th time this season). She also earned her fifth double-double this season with 12 digs, making it her third in a row and fifth in the last six matches. Additionally, she had four blocks, matching her career best.
- Senior opposite hitter Noemie Glover had 13 kills for her eighth match in a row with double-digit kills and 11th this season. She also neared a double-double with nine digs, also chipping in three blocks.
- The third pin hitter in double figures was graduate outside hitter Aniya Clinton with 12 on a .360 clip, collecting double-digit kills for the fifth time this season.
- Junior defensive specialist Piper Rama set a new career high in digs in this afternoon’s match with nine digs in the victory. She also had an ace, upping her season total to 24, which is a team best.
- Setters freshman Elle Mottola and senior Isabella Constantini split the setting duties in the afternoons match. Costantini recorded 22 assists followed by Mottola’s 21 assists in the victory. Costantini also added two aces and seven digs.
Set one: ASU 25, Iowa State 18
The Sun Devils and Cyclones started off the set going back and forth, but a kill and block by Glover sparked the Sun Devils lead at 10-5. Vajagić and Lomigora both earned kills after a short 3-0 Iowa State run. Costantini served ASU on a 6-0 run to add to the lead, 17-8. Clinton and junior middle blocker Zoey Burgess notched a kill each, making the score 20-10. The Cyclones stayed resilient as a 4-0 run helped stay in the set. Burgess continued to shine in set one as she gained another kill along with a block assisted by Mottola, 23-15. Vajagić sealed the set with a kill for Arizona State to win, 25-18.
Set two: ASU 25, Iowa State 18
Similar story for the Sun Devils and Cyclones to start the second set as it went back and forth early. However, kills by Glover and Clinton forced Iowa State to burn a timeout early with the score at 8-3 as ASU rolled on a 4-0 run. Vajagić kept the points coming as her kill alongside Mottola secured another 4-0 run, improving to 13-6. Iowa State made their own run, having coach JJ Van Niel use a timeout as ISU’s 5-0 run turned the score to 15-13, ASU. Momentum swayed back and forth in the latter half of the set as both teams traded points. The Sun Devils finished with five-straight points, influenced by an ace from freshman libero Paige Lehman and blocks from both Lomigora and Vajagić, to win the set, 25-18.
Set three: Iowa State 25, ASU 22
The Cyclones had a much needed first half lead, starting off the set at 7-3. Clinton with her ninth kill gave the Sun Devils a 4-0 run, evening up the score at 7-7. Vajagić recorded her 10th kill of the match, but the Cyclones early in the third set went up 12-9, having the Sun Devils burn their first timeout. Clinton with her fourth kill of the set helped ASU stay in the match at 15-13. Burgess and Mottola recorded a block to spoil Iowa State’s 4-0 run, which gave Arizona State its own 4-0 run, sealed with an ace by Rama, forcing Iowa State to burn a timeout. Vajagić recorded six kills in an 8-3 run between the Sun Devils and Cyclones to even the score at 21-21. The Sun Devils could not complete the third set comeback as Iowa State won the set, 25-22.
Set four: ASU 25, Iowa State 14
Glover’s name was called a lot to open up the scoring for the Sun Devils with three kills to get her to double digits. Clinton and Burgess secured a block to give ASU the lead in the fourth set at 8-5. Costantini recorded an ace for the Sun Devils, followed by three blocks, to rally a 9-0 run, giving ASU a commanding 17-6 lead. Vajagić recorded two more kills alongside Glover with one of her own during the run. Clinton got ASU the sideout with a kill after a 4-0 Cyclone run. Back-to-back kills for Burgess moved the score to 22-13. Match point was secured with an ace from junior libero Faith Frame. The Sun Devils claim victory in the fourth set, winning 25-14.
Up next
Arizona State will be back at Desert Financial Arena next weekend to host two matches: Colorado on October 9 and No. 9 TCU on October 11.
Quotes
Head Coach JJ Van Niel
Opening statement:
“It’s great to be home. I love playing here, and it’s awesome to see how many fans showed up. Over 3,900, which was great. We really feed off that energy. I talked to the team before the match about how we really have to attack from the service line and just smother them on defense. I thought we did a really nice job, we held them to .119. We had a little lull in the third set. But for the most part, we really put the pressure on them, and it was good to see us execute that.”
On Clinton and Vajagić taking some hitting pressure off Glover:
“It's really important because if you don't have some balance, then teams can key in on players. It's nice when things aren't quite as good for one, and then someone else is stepping up. Aniya has been playing really well lately, and I'm proud of her. I think she's done a really nice job with our tempo and our system. And Una was really fired up. She's been working on a couple of things, and she executed really well today, which is cool to see.”
On Youth Volleyball day:
“We love the kids. Their energy is so good in here. And I think it's awesome because you're giving back, and that's the future of volleyball. We want them to be stoked to come in here. We talk to our team all the time about being great with our community because I remind them all the time you were that age at one point. You were watching those folks play. How cool was it when someone came up and gave you a high five, helped you with the serve, signed an autograph. I think our team takes a lot of pride in that, so it's really cool.”
Senior setter Isabella Costantini
On scoring depth:
“It’s good because I think we can score in every position in the court and just seeing our other outside hitters being active and getting those kills is amazing. I think it takes a little bit of pressure off of the other hitters. It's great for me as a setter too, just trusting and knowing she's (Aniya Clinton) going to put the ball away. I’ve always trusted her, so it's good seeing that it’s paid off in numbers and all.”
On being in front of the home crowd:
“It's great. We’re all so excited that we have this match and then next weekend too. It's just good to be at home so we are not travelling at all, but just being around all of the amazing fans, the energy is just great.
Junior outside hitter Una Vajagić
On having a deep roster and great setters:
“It's so good that we know we have a long bench, and then everybody who steps on the court can help. I think she’s (Costantini) showing that her assists and production from the service line are helpful, and to have someone who is fighting this much and is always there for the team is great.”
On the team’s resiliency after dropping the third set:
“It's so great that we know even if we lose a set, we can start another one better and just fight to get as many points as we can and not let the other team go on runs.”
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