(Photo via Reece Andrews/WCSN)
Arizona State women’s volleyball announced a change will be made at the head coaching position after sixth-year head coach Sanja Tomasevic and the school mutually agreed to part ways on Friday.
“We are making a leadership change with our volleyball program in a mutual agreement,” Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson said in a press release. “We thank Coach Tomasevic and the staff for the six seasons. Our department looks forward to working with the volleyball and Sun Devil community in a national search for our next head coach.”
The announcement comes after a lackluster 2022 campaign in which the Sun Devils finished 13-19 (7-13 Pac-12) and ninth in the Pac-12 Conference, the third straight season with such a finish. In six seasons in Tempe, Tomasevic combined for an overall record of 74-104 (34-76 Pac-12) while never reaching higher than eighth in conference play nor making an NCAA Tournament appearance.
In the two weeks since the conclusion of the season, seven players have entered the transfer portal. This includes two setters in junior Ella Snyder and sophomore Allie Gray, two middle blockers in sophomore Andi Kreiling and junior Claudia Stahlke, and two outside hitters in freshman Leah Miller and sophomore Geli Cyr. Junior libero Jinna Zeng also added her name to the portal.
With senior middle blocker Brooke Boiseau and senior libero Annika Larson-Nummer having wrapped up their careers at ASU, only nine players remain on the current roster. The move, which may have more impact on the 2023 roster, continues what will be a high turnover rate for the program prior to next fall.
The Sun Devils will now look for their new head coach amid an already turbulent start to the offseason. The ninth coach in program history will take over a program that has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2015 nor finished top-five in the Pac-12 since 2000.
ASU assistant coach Kyle Breitbarth is also no longer listed on the website as part of the current coaching staff. Associate head coach Carlos Moreno and director of operations Ryan Leary will reportedly remain on the staff during the upcoming coaching search.
