(Photo via Joseph Plishka/WCSN)
After a dominating win over CSU Bakersfield earlier Friday afternoon, Arizona State Volleyball went undefeated on the first day of the Webb Burbridge Classic with a five-set, reverse sweep win over Northern Iowa.
Junior outside hitter Marta Levinska was a key contributor to the match, setting a career-high in kills with 21, including many kills during the final moments of each set. Even with her career night, head coach Sanja Tomasevic still expects more out of Levinska.
“I expect a lot from Marta. I know she had a career-high and all that, but I think Marta can be better than she was even tonight” said Tomasevic.
Besides Levinska, sophomore outside hitter Geli Cyr and junior middle blocker Claire Jeter stepped up in big moments. Tomasevic was pleased with all the different sources of production that her squad performed on Friday night.
“Different people stepping up at different times is something that is exciting for us to see because we are not relying on one person, we are a team,” Tomasevic said. “That’s something we are working really hard on. Everybody pulls the weight so one person doesn’t have to carry a big rock up the hill themselves.”
The two sides were even in the first half of the first set with a 12-11 ASU advantage. The Sun Devils began to pull away, gaining a lead as high as five points at 21-16. However, the Panthers got hot and snatched the first set away from the Sun Devils, thanks to an 11-4 run.
The second set was even closer than the first, with neither team having more than a three-point lead over the other. Eventually, Arizona State had a 23-21 lead at the end of the set. Similar to the first set, the Panthers went on a 4-0 run to win the second set 25-23.
At this point, the Sun Devils were down 2-0 with their backs against the wall, but according to senior setter Shannon Shields, the team never really felt out of it.
“I feel like we were so up and down but throughout it all, we were so positive,” Shields said.
Levinska could also feel the positive energy on the court.
“I think everyone was super focused and our energy was high,” Levinska said. “It’s just always with the energy, if you have a good energy and a good vibe on the court then the ball goes your way.”
The Sun Devils needed every bit of that good energy in the third set. Following a late kill by Marta Levinska to tie the set at 24-24, Jeter came up with back-to-back aces to seal the set for the Sun Devils and keep the match alive.
“I thought Claire played really well under pressure,” Tomasevic said. “She was doing really well for us. It’s hard because when you’re young, you want to hit and you want to score points hitting. It’s about finding ways to get them motivated to get points otherwise like serving and blocking.”
The fourth set followed the script of the first three, with neither team able to create a significant advantage. With the score at 23-23, Marta Levinska stepped up at the serving line and delivered an ace. Then, following an error by UNI, ASU secured the fourth set to force a deciding fifth set.
The fifth set was all ASU as the Sun Devils got out to a quick 8-2 lead and from there it was all about securing the win. It was the only set that the Sun Devils were able to put it all together and it could not come at a better time.
After plenty of five-set losses last year, the Sun Devils were trying to avoid five-set matches at all costs, but they also acknowledge that their experience last year helped them in tonight’s game.
“We have been there and done that,” Tomasevic explained when asked if last year’s experience helped Friday night. “This show is not over. We know what it is gonna take to win.”
After a long and thrilling day on Friday, the Sun Devils look to get rested for their third and final match of the Webb Burbridge Classic on Sunday afternoon against Toledo.
