ASU shows blueprint for next generation in win over Iowa State

(Photo: Kiley Jacobon/WCSN)

TEMPE—Just before play resumed after a timeout from the Iowa State Cyclones, it was announced that one lucky fan, Abby, would announce Arizona State’s servers for the rest of the set.

The Sun Devils captured an ace, a block and two straight kills, winning the first set by seven points. It didn’t stop there

On Youth Day at Desert Financial Arena, Abby lived out a dream by announcing the names of her favorite players. With a line full of kids waiting to get autographs postgame from the players they aspire to be, ASU (11-3,2-1) defeated Iowa State (9-6,3-1) 3-1 in four sets on the same floor. The Sun Devils remained undefeated this year when capturing the opening frame.

“Great to be home,” head coach JJ Van Niel said. “We talk to our team all the time about being great with our community; you were that age at one point, and you were watching those folks play.”

Third-year outside hitter Una Vajagić said the players feel that responsibility.

“I think we are one of the people who young kids should look for as athletes,” Vajagić said. “Our behavior on the court can help other generations.”

Three outside hitters, fourth-year Noemi Glover, fifth-year Anaya Clinton and Vajagić all posted double-digit kills for the Sun Devils.

“If you don’t have some balance, then teams can key on players,” Van Niel said. “It’s nice when things aren’t quite as good for one, and then someone else is stepping up.”

The final set required all hands on deck, and jack-of-all-trades Glover got things started. Glover launched a ball over the net that bounced so hard it deflected into the stands, leaving those sitting courtside speechless at what they had just witnessed.

Shortly after, Glover rose again, loaded her arm back and swung for the fences, or, in this case, the faces of her opponents who dared to contest her at the net.

With a sizable lead, it was time for the queen to step up in middle relief. Vajagić succeeded her counterpart, boasting two kills in three attacks, earning all her points after serving five times. Each serve yielded points.

On the verge of victory, Clinton set up the closing role by taking a free ball in the air from fourth-year setter Isabella Constantini and sent the fork flying with a kill of her own.

After diving for a ball and colliding with the ground earlier in the match, which stopped play, third-year libero Faith Frame got her revenge by slamming the fork into the floor and, with a little magic off the net, turning the capital A on her card into an Ace, making the Cyclones fold and cashing out for the win.

The Sun Devils dropped the third set of their match after winning the first two for the third time this season. However, after each of those mishaps, ASU has gone on to win, and on Sunday it was led by its external acquisitions from the past and the present.

“We know that even if we lose that set, we can start another one better and fight to get as many points as we can, and not let the other team get on runs,” Vajagić said.

For Van Niel, this victory was a year in the making, as it was Iowa State that gave ASU its lone loss last year in conference play, and its surrounding pieces are one of the biggest factors for its success.

In games where the Sun Devils have three or more players with double-digit kills, they are 6-1, including their first conference win last weekend against Cincinnati.

Glover finished with 13 kills Sunday, the 11th time in 14 games and the eighth straight game with 10 or more. Early in the year, Glover explained her dedication to training her ground game during the offseason, and she again showed her versatility on both sides of the ball against the Cyclones, recording nine digs. She furthered her argument as one of the most effective blockers in the Big 12, with three block assists, third most behind third-year middle blocker Zoey Burgess and fourth-year middle blocker Ella Lomigora.

Neck and neck with Glover was Clinton, who posted 12 kills on 25 attempts with only three errors, a .360 hitting percentage. Clinton has been heating up over the past couple of weeks, with four double-digit kill performances in five games, including Sunday and 18 last week against West Virginia.

“I think in some of those earlier matches, she was trying to be too perfect,” Van Niel said. “When you’re going line, three feet off the line is plenty. You don’t need more than that. And to her credit, she’s worked really hard at it.”

While both left their mark, Vajagić again separated herself from the rest with 18 total kills on the afternoon and was in complete control on defense with 12 digs. To this point, Vajagić has been everything the Sun Devils could have asked for, from a leadership standpoint and her presence on the floor.

“She’s been working on a couple things, and she executed really well today, which is cool to see,” Van Niel said.

ASU was out-attacked by the Cyclones, but the offensive storm wasn’t enough as the Sun Devils won the side-out matchup 61.8% to 47.9%. Aside from ASU’s ability to outscore its opponent in digs 58-49, the setters have really enforced a solid operation on the offensive end.

First-year setter Elle Mottola has put together double-digit assist games in all but two matches. Those came in two of the three losses the Sun Devils have had this season. She recorded a career-high 45 against then-No. 8 Stanford, leading ASU to a sweep, and has put up 30 or more assists in five games this season.

While she has been otherworldly on her own, her partner in crime Constantini has been solid as well. Against Iowa State, Constantini put up 22 assists and has recorded 10 or more for the fifth time this year, as the setters have embraced the shared role.

“I think our mentality is just how can we make this team go big places, go long throughout the season,” Constantini said.

The Sun Devils now sit at 2-1 in conference play, as the quest for a third straight conference championship has only just begun.

“I don’t think about a Big 12 championship,” Van Niel said. “All I think about is, okay, this is done. Now we’ve got to go play Colorado. Our conference is pretty crazy this year. You really got to be on your A game every night to have a shot.”