(Photo: Paige Cook/WCSN)
Arizona State’s (14-17, 7-13 Pac-12) conference schedule ended the way it started – with a loss to the Arizona Wildcats (16-15, 8-12 Pac-12). The only difference between the two matches was the length. The first matchup was a thrilling five-set match, while the sweep.
The Sun Devils opened the first set behind early, as Arizona would go on a 4-0 run to capture a 5-3 lead. ASU would get a kill but would be unable to string together multiple kills to get themselves back on track. Instead, it would be UofA freshman Puk Stubbe who tallied six kills on the first set on .667 hitting. The performance helped the Wildcats go on multiple scoring runs, the biggest being a 7-0 scoring run. Arizona would take the first set 25-11.
Through the first set, Arizona State was held to 11 points and only six kills on a .000 hitting percentage.
After an uncompetitive first set, ASU hoped to turn things around and create some momentum in the second set. But the Wildcats wouldn’t give up that easily. Once again, Arizona was able to hold Arizona State to a hitting percentage of .000. Stubbe would lead Arizona in kills with four, but had help from Jaelyn Hodge and Maldonado Diaz, contributing three kills each.
The Sun Devils offense continued to struggle as they only had six kills for the second consecutive set. Unlike the previous set, ASU was able to string together a few kills and go on a 5-0 scoring run. Arizona State would get as close as 8-7 but was never able to get a lead. Arizona would respond with multiple 4-0 scoring runs of their own. The offensive outburst by the Wildcats would allow them to take the second set, 25-16.
Arizona State head coach Sanja Tomasevic has emphasized a play style that involves three or more players reaching double-digit kills. Saturday, sophomore Marta Levinska was the only player to reach double digits.
The Wildcats continued their dominant play in the third set by opening the set with a 10-4 lead. The lead continued for the remainder of the set until Arizona reached the 20-point mark. Arizona State would battle back and cut the deficit to 22-19 before Arizona would push their lead to 23. Kills by junior Beatrice Badini and freshman Geli Cyr would cut the lead to 23-21, forcing UofA to call a timeout.
Following the timeout, the Wildcats would score once more to go to match point. But the Sun Devils would go on a 3-0 scoring run to tie the set at 24. ASU came close but was never able to get in front of UofA. Instead, Arizona State would continue to play catch-up until Arizona took the set 27-25.
ASU ended its season on the wrong foot and with a record below .500. Inconsistent play plagued the Devils all season long and it eventually caught up to them.
