(Photo: Sun Devil Athletics)
TEMPE – In the second of three games for No. 8 Arizona State as part of the Sun Devil Classic, the Sun Devils welcomed in-state rivals GCU, who were coming off a Friday night sweep of Milwaukee. With the fourth-largest crowd for a volleyball game at Desert Financial awaiting the matchup, ASU gave its fans a show to remember.
The Lopes stood no chance against their in-state rivals, as ASU (8-2) beat them in straight sets to stay undefeated in the weekend with just one game left before Big 12 play begins.
“Our team loves it when we have a big crowd,” head coach JJ Van Niel said. “It is a big deal, and it makes the environment so fun. It is like having a seventh person on the floor.”
The Sun Devils started hot right away, specifically the outside hitter combo of junior Naomi Glover and senior Bailey Miller, as the duo ended with 10 of ASU’s 16 kills on its way to a 25-16 win in the opening set.
From that point on, it set the tone for the rest of the match, where the Sun Devils outscored the Lopes 75-49 in just three sets.
“Our adaptability,” Miller said after the game about what has gone well for them this season. “We’ve had some unfortunate injuries and just lineup changes, and I think everyone comes into the gym ready to work.
The Lopes found themselves down just 12-9 at one point, but the Sun Devils followed it up right away with a 7-1 run of their own to jump ahead 19-10. That was all the chance GCU had the rest of the set, eventually dropping it 25-19 and giving ASU a 2-0 lead.
After the second set, the Sun Devils didn’t let up and kicked off the third with the same pace, jumping ahead 12-4 quickly.
The Lopes were able to get a few points back to make it close later in the set, but ASU kept its foot on the gas pedal and stayed on top, winning the set 25-14 to finish with a second sweep in as many days.
“We’ve had the same lineup for these past two nights, so I think that is helping with our consistency,” Miller said about the team heading into conference.” I think the team feeds off of Naomi’s energy and her overall play, so it’s been really nice to have her back, and I think we are ready.”
Coming off their blazing hot first set, neither Glover nor Miller slowed down, ending with the first and second most kills on the team in the game, with Glover ending with 12 and Miller ending with 11.
ASU’s serves were also unstoppable the whole match. The team finished with a season-high 10 aces, as graduate student Colby Neal led the way with four.
“It’s a huge benefit when you’re getting aces and blocks,” Van Niel said. “They are not things you typically rely on, but you need service pressure. I’ve harped on being a great serving team and the last two nights have been our best serving nights and we have been consistent in blocks”
The offense ran through senior setter Sydney Henry, who led the way with 27 assists, almost right on par with her season average of 28. While she regulated ASU’s offensive production, her teammates stepped up defensively.
The Sun Devils not only held the Lopes to a measly .104 hitting percentage, but they also racked up nine blocks at the net, as junior middle blocker Ella Lomigora led the way with six. Injuries earlier in the year forced Van Niel to thrust players onto the court. But as his team gets healthier, ASU’s chemistry can continue to grow throughout the year with players stepping up that normally wouldn’t.
“This is a new team playing together,” Van Niel said. “We’ve had to mix our lineup so much…… I think we are building confidence and we’re getting more comfortable together and with our system.”
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