Volleyball

ASU Volleyball: How Arizona State prepared for an unusual spring season

NCAA Division 1 volleyball coaches face challenges during the season such as recruiting, running effective practices, and winning games. In September, another challenge was added to volleyball coaches, as the NCAA announced plans to conduct 2020 fall championships during the spring of 2021.

Moving the volleyball national championship to April 25, 2021, set up an unusual athletic calendar for Arizona State volleyball head coach Sanja Tomasevic and her Sun Devil team. As part of the Pac-12, Arizona State’s lack of games impacted its roster and outlook for the spring season.

ASU had two seniors — outside hitters Andrea Mitrovic and Claire Kovensky — opt out this year due to the postponement of the regular season. Mitrovic left early to play professional volleyball, while Kovensky decided to graduate early.

“I believe if we had them in the fall it would’ve helped us grow faster as a team,” Tomasevic told Cronkite Sports.

With the NCAA giving players an extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic, coaches like Tomasevic must account for scholarship limits on their roster. Tomasevic said the Sun Devils will not be as negatively impacted by the extra year of eligibility as other schools are.

“The class that was affected the most by this, we didn’t really have that many scholarships for them anyways,” said Tomasevic of ASU’s scholarship situation.

Adding to problems for transfer players, sophomore setter Shannon Shields’s homecoming was delayed. The Arizona native committed to Louisville in high school, but decided to transfer to ASU after her freshman year. Not only did Louisville play a fall season — along with schools in the ACC, SEC, Big 12 and Sun Belt conferences — but they also finished in the top ten in the NCAA national rankings. Despite the frustration of a delayed debut to her Sun Devil career, Shields says she doesn’t regret her decision to transfer.

“I’m glad I had more time to connect in the gym with my new teammates and prepare with more time,” says Shields.

Luckily for the Sun Devils, Shields’s decision was not affected by the possibility that the Pac-12 might not have a normal fall season. She toured the school in eighth grade, and when she entered the transfer portal, Tomasevic came calling.

The postponement of the regular fall season has led to disruptions for schools across the Pac-12. Some schools such as Stanford haven’t been allowed to practice all season due to local health guidelines. Luckily, the Sun Devils were eventually able to return to practice after a short delay. Arizona State gradually worked up to six-on-six action. Throughout the spring season the Pac-12 will require players to wear a mask during both practices and games.

“If the alternative is no season then put the mask on and let’s play some volleyball,” Tomasevic said of the mask requirements.

ASU has been trying to focus on the positives this season such as spending more time in the gym together and growing the bond between players, both on and off the court. The players are also struggling to adjust to normal campus life during this pandemic-riddled academic year.

“The team is amazing, but we kinda missed out on seeing other other people and talking with the other [ASU] teams,” says Shields.

As the Pac-12 returns to play for the first time since the fall 2019 season, Tomasevic is standing in support of the conference.

“I think they made the right decision for health and safety. We still don’t know enough about Coronavirus,” said Tomasevic. “I felt like it was the right decision for the student athletes. The Pac-12 has always been the conference that leads in that sense. We always put our student athletes first.”

After finishing eighth overall in the Pac-12 in 2019, ASU has taken advantage of the extra time in the gym by working on player connections. In its opening weekend set, the Sun Devils split a pair of matches with top-10 ranked Washington.

The team has been together all fall to develop their skills with the new players, as it is a young team. The postponed season might be a blessing in disguise, as it gives the Sun Devils more time to work on a cohesive offense, while also maintaining player safety.

“It’s been a good time to develop the team and get better. I really don’t see it when the world is falling apart and people are losing lives, I don’t see it as much of a challenge,” says Tomasevic.