No. 13 Arizona State travels to Utah for two big impact Big 12 matches

(Photo: Aubrie McMillan/WCSN)

After beating Arizona in Tucson to secure bragging rights in the Territorial Cup, Arizona State Volleyball heads north to Utah where it runs into two ranked conference opponents, BYU and Utah. Coming out ahead in the two matchups will be crucial for Arizona State to keep and improve upon its standing as a big dog in the Big 12 with the tournament just a month away.

No. 20 BYU (13-6, 6-3) will be No. 13 Arizona State’s (20-2, 8-1) first challenge. The two teams will meet on Halloween night, October 31, in Provo before the Sun Devils head to Salt Lake City to take on No. 22 Utah (16-4, 6-3) on November 2.

The Sun Devils have had a great year so far in head coach JJ Van Niel’s second season at the helm. As October comes to a close they are red hot and on an eight-match win streak that began at the beginning of the month against these same two teams.

Following a road loss to No. 17 (then No. 19) Baylor in ASU’s second conference game on September 27, the team returned to Tempe where it beat Utah in four sets and continued its winning against BYU in the next match with a sweep.

From that point on Arizona State has been nearly unbeatable, going 18-2 across its next 20 sets. The Sun Devils’ biggest challenge came in the second set of their last game against Arizona. They dropped the set 25-15 and it looked like a road loss could be coming for Arizona State before it bounced back in the third and fourth sets.

Arizona State’s two losses this season have both been as the visiting team. First in non-conference play the Sun Devils were swept by No. 2 (then No. 5) Nebraska before the aforementioned loss to Baylor in four sets. ASU’s 5-2 record as the visiting team is still very good, but the Sun Devils have been proven to be beatable away from Tempe.

BYU and Utah are both extremely good at home. BYU is 10-2 at Smith Fieldhouse and Utah is 8-1 when playing at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.

BYU’s defense is something the Sun Devils will have to watch out for. The Cougars lead the Big 12 in blocks per set with 2.65. Sophomore middle blocker Brielle Kemavor leads the way with a conference-leading 112 blocks. ASU doesn’t get blocked often, only averaging getting blocked 1.70 times per set this season, second lowest in the conference, but if they’re not careful that number could rise.

On offense, the Cougars are led by sophomore outside hitter Claire Little who is fourth in the conference with 292 kills. Little has broken out this year after 75 kills in 52 sets last season.

The first time these two teams met this year BYU only had two players above five kills. If ASU can limit the Cougars’ offensive production for a second time the Sun Devils should come out on top.

Utah poses a challenge as well. The Utes have already taken a set off ASU once this year and will be hoping to prove they can beat them over an entire match.

Graduate defensive specialist Claranne Fechter, who came over to Utah this season from Campbell, can be a pest for opposing offenses. After being named the 2022 Big South Defensive Player of the Year and being a member of the 2023 second-team all-CAA, Fecther ranks ninth in the Big 12 in digs with 233.

Offensively, sophomore outside hitter Kamryn Gibadlo from Cave Creek, Arizona, leads the way for the Utes, offensively. After a Pac-12 All-Freshman first season, she’s continued to make an impact with her 235 kills leading the team. Junior middle blocker Emrie Satuala transferred to Utah from Idaho State this year and has also made a major impact. Her 160 kills are second on the team and she is seventh in the conference in hitting percentage at a .370 mark.

Arizona State stumbled out of the gates in its first meeting with Utah. The team recorded eight kills to nine attack errors with a .023 hitting percentage in the first set before bouncing back for the win, but they’ll need to avoid a slow start on the road.

The Sun Devils of course have stand out players of their own. Senior outside hitter Geli Cyr’s team leading 270 kills ranks her sixth in the Big 12. Graduate setter Argentina Ung sets her teammates up with assists all match long, her 10.15 assists per set are third in the conference. Graduate Libero Mary Shroll leads the conference in both digs with 372 and digs per set with 5.10.

The Sun Devils will need to be on top of their game on the road in these two important matchups. Two wins on the road against two other ranked opponents could improve ASU’s rankings in both the AVCA rankings and RPI.

Two losses however would show that this ASU team prove that their schedule was just a little bit light and would result in it dropping down the rankings. Arizona State is currently second ahead of No. 18 TCU (15-5, 7-3) in the conference standings.

Good teams have to win on the road against other good teams and the Sun Devils have a chance to show just how good they are this week.