BOULDER, Colo. – In just the third loss of the season, No. 17 Sun Devil Volleyball struggled at Colorado, falling in straight sets (27-25, 25-18, 26-24) on Sunday afternoon.
Notable Stats
Arizona State (19-3, 7-3 Pac-12) was swept for just the second time all season in the third loss of the year. ASU continues to struggle at elevation, now 1-8 in its last nine matches at Colorado (12-9, 4-6 Pac-12).
In both the first and third sets, the Sun Devils trailed to start and came back to get a lead. However, both went to extra points and ASU was unable to complete the comeback.
Senior opposite Marta Levinska led the Sun Devils in kills with 17 and in digs with season-high 14. This was the 24th double-double of her career, third of the season.
Senior middle blocker Claire Jeter led the blocking effort with five, including two solo blocks. She added three kills.
Pacing the offense, graduate setter Shannon Shields had 37 assists.
Arizona State led in the service aces category 6-2. Junior Geli Cyr and freshman Jillian Neal both had two.
Set One: Colorado 27, ASU 25
The home team jumped out to a 10-2 run to start the match. However, the Sun Devils started chipping away at it, first with a 5-1 run that had two aces from Cyr to make it 11-7. Jeter’s block got going, one solo block to get ASU within two, 16-14. Another one put the Devils down one, 19-18, before a huge swing from Shields tied it up. Colorado started to pull away again with a 4-1 run to get to set point, 21-24. Two aces from Jillian Neal sparked a 4-0 run to put ASU ahead and at set point, 25-24. However, the Buffs responded with three in a row to win the set 27-25.
Set Two: Colorado 25, ASU 18
After an early 3-0 lead for the Buffs, the Sun Devils tied it up with a kill from Roberta Rabeloat 4-4. The teams went back and forth for a while until Colorado scored four in a row to open up the set, up 15-11. Another run of four made it 20-14 for the home team. Shania Cromartie and Cyr got back-to-back kills to make it 21-17, but the Buffs ended the set on a 4-1 run to win 25-18 and go up 2-0 in the match.
Set Three: Colorado 26, ASU 24
Like the other two sets, Arizona State started behind. Back-to-back kills from Levinksa got ASU within one, down 5-4. The Buffs scored five-consecutive points to go up 11-5. The Sun Devils finally took the lead at 16-15 after a 5-0 run that saw two blocks from Jeter and Cyr. After Colorado took back the lead on a 4-1 run, back-to-back kills from Levinska put Arizona State back up at 21-10. The home team got to set point first, 24-22, but another Levinska kill and a block from Jeter and Cyr tied it at 24-24. Colorado won the set 26-24 on a block.
Up Next
Arizona State is finally back in Tempe after two weeks on the road. ASU will host Cal on Friday in Desert Financial Arena before bringing in No. 3 Stanford on Sunday in Mullett Arena.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Kimberlie Haner
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