(Photo via Marina Williams/WCSN)
After a disappointing five-set loss to lowly Oregon State, No. 19 Arizona State volleyball came into Eugene Sunday in desperate need of a victory to stay on the good side of the AVCA committee and remain in the top-25 rankings. On the other hand, No. 5 Oregon (16-3, 6-2 Pac-12) had gathered momentum coming into the match, rattling off three consecutive wins following a home loss to No. 4 Washington State.
In dominating fashion, the Sun Devils shocked the Ducks in arguably one of the most significant wins in recent program memory, taking down Oregon in straight sets, 27-25, 25-18, 25-19. With the win, ASU improved to 18-2 on the season and collected its first ranked win of 2023. It also marked the Sun Devils’ first victory against a top-five opponent since taking down the defending national champion and second-ranked Texas in September 2013.
Since the beginning of the season, ASU’s hitting and opposing hitting percentages have been a significant selling point for the team’s success, as it entered Sunday with a hitting percentage at .305 while allowing a .164 clip. Coincidentally, the Sun Devils lead the Pac-12 Conference in hitting and allow the second-fewest in opposing hitting, with Oregon sitting first in that category and just behind ASU in hitting.
With the top-two hitting and defending teams in the Pac-12 going head-to-head, Sunday’s anticipated back-and-forth battle at the net was turned upside down. The Sun Devils dominated the hitting struggle on both sides and held the Ducks to a hitting percentage of .127, their lowest of the season.
In a season where the Sun Devils’ veteran stars have carried the way, numerous second-tier players showcased the unit’s depth Sunday with complementary performances. Senior outside hitter Roberta Rabelo stood out with a team-high 35 total attacks and tallied eight kills, four digs and three blocks in the process. In addition, true freshman outside hitter Jillian Neal stepped up with two of the Sun Devils’ six service aces on the day, including one to wrap a close first set.
However, if there was one significant improvement for ASU following its defeat Friday against Oregon State, it was its service and kill reception ability. The Sun Devils, in addition to having an incredible opposing hitting percentage on the day, collected 10 blocks and 52 digs, the fourth most they have had in a single match this season. The impressive defensive performance featured setter Shannon Shields, junior outside hitter Geli Cyr and graduate libero Mary Shroll contributing to at least ten digs each, the first time ASU has had three or more players reach double digits in a straight-sets victory this season.
The Sun Devils will now hope to carry their sky-high momentum into next weekend when they head to the Rocky Mountains to take on Utah (8-9, 3-4 Pac-12) and Colorado (10-9, 2-6 in Pac-12).
