(Photo: Travis Whittaker/WCSN)
The Arizona State Sun Devils returned to the court for the first time in 2019 during their annual Maroon and Gold scrimmage Saturday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena. Here are a few takeaways from the scrimmage via WCSN volleyball reporters Gabe Swartz and Alex Gaul.
Nicole Peterson controls the Sun Devil offense
Gabe Swartz: It was clear early and often throughout Saturday’s scrimmage the importance of senior setter Nicole Peterson to the Sun Devil offense. While teams were shuffled around and Peterson played for both the Maroon and Gold teams over the course of the five sets, Peterson’s control of the offense was on display with 30 assists.
Additions of Jada Burse and Iman Isanovic create competition at outside hitter
GS: Depth at outside hitter was a problem for the Sun Devils last year, with ASU at times being forced to play hitters despite negative hitting percentages. In 2019, that should not be the case, as Arizona State added Kansas transfer Jada Burse and talented freshman Iman Isanovic to bolster their depth at the position. Burse, an All-Big 12 First Team selection during her junior year at KU had 23 kills on Saturday. Isanovic added 20 kills of her own. The two join established hitters Ivana Jeremic and Claire Kovensky in competition for the two outside hitter spots. Although all four will likely see playing time, according to head coach Sanja Tomasevic.
Leffel provides experience at libero position
Alex Gaul: Since the departure of Halle Harker, ASU has been looking for an answer in the back line. Courtney Leffel was that answer last season. The Arizona-native racked up a team-leading 506 digs in 2018, good for the sixth-best mark in the Pac-12. With more depth at outside hitter on the 2019 roster, it will be crucial for the Sun Devils to be sturdy in the back line to minimize out-of-system play and to set up good scoring situations for their hitters. As the only returner to have played in every one of ASU’s 113 sets last season, Leffel provides much needed consistency in defense, something that is invaluable to a team looking for stable offensive play. Leffel tallied a team-leading 33 digs in the scrimmage, a sign of things to come for the senior.
Avital Jaloba shows increased comfort at middle blocker
GS: During a freshman year which saw Jaloba tally 12 kills and 16 blocks in 28 sets, sophomore middle blocker Avital Jaloba looked comfortable and aggressive during Saturday’s scrimmage. The sophomore from Israel registered 6.5 blocks and 6 kills on a .250 hitting percentage. Jaloba and junior Megan Beedie should give the Sun Devils the majority of their production at middle blocker.
Season Prediction:
GS: Last season, Arizona State went 14-18 (5-15 Pac-12). While I believe the Sun Devils have a more talented roster this season, the non-conference schedule is more challenging. The Sun Devils play on the road for all 12 non-conference games, and therefore I think the Devils will hover right around 14-17 as they did last year and will go 5-15 for the third time in four seasons in the Pac-12.
AG: The Sun Devils are in the midst of a lengthy rebuild that dates back to their last NCAA tournament appearance in 2015, the same season the program got as high as No. 5 in the AVCA Coaches Poll. Since then, the program has gone a paltry 10-50 in the Pac-12 and has only appeared in the AVCA Poll once. With the conference boasting six schools in the preseason Top 25, ASU has their work cut out for them again this season. That coupled with a non-conference slate that includes multiple Power-5 schools and no home matches means ASU will be challenged early and often. I predict the Devils will struggle to find consistent wins, but still do have enough raw talent to stick around in matches with the Pac-12’s ranked teams. Thus, they will hover around 12-19 overall and 6-14 in the Pac-12.
