(Photo: Spencer Barnes/WCSN)
After collecting a kill to set up match point for Arizona State Volleyball, senior outside hitter Geli Cyr stepped into a cross-court ace. Once the ball fell out of bounds off of Colorado sophomore Ana Burilović’s reception, Cyr’s Sun Devil teammates swarmed her to celebrate another milestone along 2024’s historic season: clinching at least a share of the Big 12 Conference championship.
With the 3-1 win over the Colorado Buffaloes (12-16, 5-11) on Saturday, No. 9 Arizona State (28-2, 16-1) ties last year’s squad for second most wins in program history, improves its program record for conference wins to 16, and sets up an opportunity for the Devils to claim the school and program’s first solo Big 12 conference championship with another win.
Despite starting the first set slower than its usual pace, ASU overwhelmed the Buffaloes with a fast-paced and efficient offense in the three of the four sets on Saturday. Three Sun Devils, including Cyr and graduate middle blocker Claire Jeter, had double-digit kills on Saturday, and three others had more than six in the afternoon contest.
Jeter led the way with her season-best 14 kills on 18 attacks, her second-most efficient outing of 2024. The prolific middle blocker used her power to hammer away at Colorado’s frontcourt defense, and opened up opportunities for her teammates by commanding blockers. Jeter also contributed 4 blocks on the defensive end.
Cyr and graduate outside hitter Shania Cromartie capitalized on Jeter’s efficiency, collecting 12 kills each with runs in crucial spots. During the back-and-forth second set, Cromartie helped the Sun Devils break a 12-12 tie with four kills in a six point span that sparked the momentum Arizona State needed to win the set.
In a similar vein, Cyr had four kills in set four during the Sun Devils’ fiery 13-4 opening response to dropping the previous set. Cyr then went on to seal the match for ASU with her final kill and subsequent ace.
Arizona State’s serving was also a key factor in preventing Colorado from stealing its thunder on Saturday. The Sun Devils totaled eight aces on the day, with six in the first set to put the Buffaloes on their toes and two in the fourth set to close out the match. Even when its serves didn’t score points, ASU’s serves gave Colorado trouble receiving.
Even though Arizona State ultimately won, Colorado fought them at every turn. The Buffaloes scored at least 16 points in every set, and their young hitters gave the Sun Devils trouble.
Sophomore outside hitters Ana Burlivoić and Lily Dwinell combined for 27 of Colorado’s 43 kills, utilizing their power to get through the Sun Devils’ net defense with decent efficiency, as both had hitting percentages at .220 or better.
Furthermore, Colorado created pressure at the net through tough defense, part of the reason it won set three 25-19. The Buffaloes had nine blocks to Arizona State’s six, five of which came in that third set.
The Sun Devils stand atop the Big 12 heading into the last match of the season on November 29, a home contest against UCF. Arizona State can clinch sole possession of its first conference championship with either a win over UCF or a No. 11 Kansas loss in any of its three contests after Saturday.
The win over Colorado also bolsters Arizona State’s chances of hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament in Tempe, as they rank 9th in the RPI. Hosts or not, the Sun Devils have made their case as one of the nation’s top teams as the postseason looms.
