(Photo: Paige Cook/WCSN)
It had been a month since the crowd at Desert Financial Arena witnessed a win and over two weeks since the last Arizona State victory but the bleeding stopped Sunday as Arizona State (9-10, 2-6 Pac-12) upset No. 14 UCLA (13-3, 6-2 Pac-12) for the first time since 2014.
In a spectacular home win, the Devils completed the reverse sweep and captured their first win since Oct. 3 when they faced California. It was also the first time they had won a five-set match — their 10th such match of the season — since Sept. 10 against Utah Valley.
“The way we approach that fifth set it was like you know we’re carrying the momentum from these last two sets, and we felt like we were executing things at a higher level, super proud of our girls,” head coach Sanja Tomasevic told reporters following ASU’s second conference victory of 2021. “I told you guys last time, we’ll get ours, we’ll keep fighting, and you know today was a good day to do it.”
It was ASU’s 10th five-setter of the season, but just the third win in matches that have gone the distance. The biggest difference between this match and the previous five-set matches was Arizona State’s ability to gain momentum and keep it for the remainder of the match. After a tough first two sets, the turning point was the third set.
UCLA ended the second set on a 6-0 run and appeared they would sweep Arizona State out of Tempe, but Annika Larson, Iman Isanovic and Tomasevic were not ready to quit. The three gathered the team and got them ready for the third set.
“We were not done playing. We know what we can do. In the first two sets, we were kind of just in awe of who was on the other side and how good [Mac May] is. She will make plays that make it to SportsCenter and that’s how good she is, but we need to execute our plays where we have the ball and it’s in our hands,” Tomasevic explained about the message she shared in the 0-2 match hole. “I think that was a big message that carried us into the third set. We have to go out there and do what we’re supposed to do, and they will do what they’re doing but let’s not let go.”
Freshman Geli Cyr owned the third set, contributing three kills. She would finish the match with 11 kills and 10 digs, her first career double-double in maroon and gold. She helped the Devils go on a 9-3 run, which gave them a 20-15 lead. This offensive explosion would be too much for UCLA to handle as Arizona State would take the third set, 25-20.
With momentum on their side, the Devils looked poised to take the fourth set. But the Bruins kept the set close until Isanovic rode a hot streak and led Arizona State on a 5-1 scoring run. UCLA was forced to call a timeout and managed to get back into the set but Arizona State kept applying pressure and eventually won the set, 25-22, off an error by UCLA freshman Charitie Luper.
Although the Devils won the fourth set, it was a catastrophic set. Junior libero Annika Larson had to be helped off the floor with an apparent foot injury. Larson had ice on her foot and kept it elevated for the remainder of the match. She never returned to the match and was seen wearing a protective boot after the game.
Tomasevic had no update on her status but said she would be seeing a doctor immediately. Jamye Cox would replace Larson at libero.
“I am so proud of Jamye. She came in and stepped in and she was really good for us. Especially being a libero on Friday then not starting as a libero today,” Tomasevic said. “For her to be ready to go and play as well as she did, and to get us on a serving run — which serving has been a struggle for her — but to get on a long-serving run in the fifth set was super exciting. I’m so proud of her.”
After tying the match at two sets apiece, Arizona State headed to a fifth set. This would be the Devils’ third consecutive five-set match.
“In this match, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that it wasn’t going to be our game. We worked so hard, we stayed focused and that’s the thing that separated this game from the games we previously played,” Isanovic explained in the differences from this match to previous five-set failures. “This game was constant focus. You can see it in everyone’s eyes that there was focus and not a doubt in any single player’s mind on the court or even on the sidelines that this was going to be ours.”
This winning mentality Arizona State possessed was enough to dominate the fifth set. Isanovic helped the Devils open the set on a 4-1 scoring run with two kills and two service aces. Geli Cyr and Marta Levinska would each also chip in with a kill of their own. Combine that with two errors by UCLA, and Arizona State led the Bruins 8-2.
The biggest ASU run came via an 8-2 stretch which would give them a 12-4 lead. Claudia Stahlke would seal the deal for Arizona State with a block on UCLA sensation Mac May. Stahlke finished the match with seven total blocks, good for a new season-high.
“It was kind of personal. We took it personal. We told ourselves we are not going to lose this game,” Ella Snyder explained following the victory. “In the fifth set, we were taking it, for Annika, and just for everything that happened during the game.”
The biggest key to this game was the offensive production the Devils received from Isanovic, Levinska, Cyr and Claire Jeter, who combined for 51 of Arizona State’s 59 kills. Tomasevic has emphasized the idea of having three players in double-digit kills. Tonight, she had four players with 10 or more kills and managed to pull off the reverse sweep.
Arizona State’s upset win over UCLA gives the team a tremendous boost of confidence, something they will need for the remainder of the season. They will travel to Utah on Friday for their match against the Utes at 5 p.m. After that, they will look to take on the Colorado Buffaloes on Sunday at 11 a.m.
