ASU Volleyball: Sun Devils survive Cal, avoid seventh straight loss

(Photo via Xavier Litman/WCSN)

Down 16-12 in the fourth set of its match against California, everything seemed like it was falling apart for Arizona State women’s volleyball. The Sun Devils (12-18, 6-12 Pac-12) were headed towards their seventh loss in a row, which would have given the Golden Bears (7-20, 0-17 Pac-12) their first Pac-12 Conference win in just under two years.

But behind a career-high 25 kills from junior outside hitter Marta Levinska, ASU clawed back and defeated the Golden Bears in five sets (25-23, 20-25, 21-25, 26-24, 15-5) on a Sunday afternoon road tilt.

With six straight losses, ASU came into the match desperately needing a win over Cal, who had played in five straight five-set matches coming into the matchup. Despite losing 17 consecutive matches, the Golden Bears haven’t been shy of a fight.

Levinska ended the day with a career-high 25 kills and started it with an efficient first set, scoring six kills on a .367 hitting percentage in the opening frame. The Sun Devils were assisted by good performances at the net and service line, recording five total blocks and four service aces.

After a promising opening, the following two sets for the Sun Devils showed some glaring issues. The impressive blocking and serving performances faded over the following two sets, as ASU only recorded two of each in that span.

For the Golden Bears, junior outside hitter Lydia Grote shined with 22 kills. In sets two and three, she controlled the game, recording 10 kills and a service ace. Cal also received a massive contribution from freshman outside hitter Peyton Dejardin, who tallied a double-double with a career-high in both kills and blocks with 16 and 17, respectively.

Facing a potential seventh straight loss, the Sun Devils needed to do something to spark a comeback.

In the last few matches, head coach Sanja Tomasevic had moved sophomore Geli Cyr from outside hitter to libero to boost the team’s below average passing. Cyr again started in the opposite colored shirt at libero, but with the team needing an offensive spark besides Levinska, Tomasevic moved Cyr back to outsider hitter in the fourth set.

The results were instantaneous.

Behind Cyr’s seven kills, the Sun Devils regained the momentum with a fourth-set victory, forcing a final fifth set. Cal did its part in the fourth, including eight kills from Grote, while forcing a 24-24 tie. But kills from Cyr and junior middle blocker Claire Jeter closed out the fourth set 26-24, carrying ASU’s energy into the deciding fifth.

The Sun Devils’ momentum overwhelmed the Golden Bears, as they closed out California with a dominant 15-5 fifth set. Levinska finished the match by scoring three of the final four kills, capping off a career night while adding 14 digs for a double-double.

The Sun Devils will host their final two matches of the season next weekend, beginning with Utah on Wednesday and cross-town rival Arizona on Saturday.