F(Memphis, TN) Sun Devil Volleyball finished the non-conference season with a perfect 12-0 record after beating Southern Miss in straight sets (25-22, 25-6, 25-21) on Saturday morning and winning the Beale Street Challenge.
Senior opposite Marta Levinska was named the MVP of the tournament after hitting a blistering .527 over the three matches. She led the team with 42 total kills, including a season-high 21 against Southern Miss. Graduates Mary Shroll and Shannon Shieldswere named to the all-tournament team for their efforts. Shroll totaled 42 digs and eclipsed 1,000 career digs over the weekend. In addition to leading the team in assists, Shields also had 12 aces over three matches.
Notable Stats
Arizona State ends non-conference play with a perfect 12-0 mark, the third-best start in program history and the best start by a new head coach (JJ Van Niel). This is the second time in the 21st century going undefeated in non-conference matches (also 2015).
This win over the Golden Eagles (5-6) was the sixth-straight sweep, which is tied for the second-longest streak of sweeps in ASU history (also 1995).
The Sun Devils hit .426 in the win, the third-best clip of the season and the fourth over .400 in 2023.
Levinska hit a career-high .606 with 21 kills, a season high and her 10th match in her career with 20-plus kills. She also had three blocks, three digs, two assists and an ace.
The serving game was on fire again, rattling off 14 aces. Not only is it a new season high, beating yesterday’s total of 13, but it is tied for the third-highest total in ASU history. Shields led the charge again, earning five aces. Shroll and junior Geli Cyradded three aces each to the total, which ties a personal best for Cyr.
In addition to Shields’ five aces, she dished out 37 assists and had five digs and a block.
Shroll led the defense again in the win, notching a match-high 14 digs. She also had two assists.
The block game was led by graduate middle blocker Maddie McLaughlin, collecting four. She also had six kills on nine attempts.
Quote:
Head Coach JJ Van Niel
“Once again, I’m so proud of this team for finding ways to win, regardless of the situations we faced. We’ve accomplished our preseason goals, and now we look forward to moving into Pac-12 play with two home matches in Mullett Arena this upcoming week. We can’t wait to compete in front of our family, friends, and fans!”
Set One: ASU 25, Southern Miss 22
The opening frame was a battle between the Sun Devils and Golden Eagles. There were 14 ties and nine lead changes throughout the set. Levinska got going early with a kill for ASU’s first point of the match at 1-1. Another from her made it 10-10. The last tie of the set came at 18-18 as part of Arizona State’s 6-0 run with Shields serving to blow open the game, going up 22-18. Cyr’s kill won the set, 25-22.
Set Two: ASU 25, Southern Miss 6
It was all Sun Devils in the second set. Shields served the team to a 13-0 lead to start the frame, tallying four aces in the run. Shroll got two of her aces in this set as well as part of a 3-0 run to make it 17-2. Kills from Levinska and Roberta Rabelo down the stretch made it 23-5, and a setter dump from Shields won the set at 25-6, which is the largest margin of victory in a set for ASU this season.
Set Three: ASU 25, Southern Miss 21
The third set started off similarly to the first with neither team able to create much separation. Southern Miss scored three in a row early to go up 5-3. Arizona State got three-straight points with Jeter serving and getting an ace to make it 9-9. The ties continued, including a deadlock at 19-19 after Levinska got a kill for the sideout. Rabelo served five in a row to get to match point and create a lead, making it 24-20. Finally, Cyr won the match with a kill.
Up Next
The Sun Devils finally will be home next weekend, playing in Mullett Arena for the first time. ASU will host in-state rival Arizona on Thursday before bringing in Washington on Sunday, September 24, for the 50th anniversary celebration.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Kimberlie Haner
Click on Logo
