(Tempe, AZ) Sun Devil Volleyball is gearing up for the 2024 season, which will be the first in the Big 12 and the second under head coach JJ Van Niel. With many key returners and stand-out newcomers on the roster, Arizona State will look to continue building on the momentum from last season.
2023 Season Recap
The 2023 season for Sun Devil Volleyball was arguably the best one in program history. With numerous records broken, two wins in the NCAA Tournament, three All-Americans, and many more milestones, the 50th season of the program was a remarkable one. Arizona State went 28-7 under first-year head coach Van Niel. The Sun Devils reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015, winning two matches for the first time in program history. Arizona State had its second-highest win total in a season in program history with 28, which was the most wins in a season this century. The win percentage of .800 was the best the program has had. To start the season, the Sun Devils went 14-0 (undefeated in non-conference and two conference wins), the third-best start in team history and the best start by a new head coach. ASU has had 20 sweeps that season, the most in program history by five.
The Sun Devils lost three key starters, but they return four main starters and bring in more firepower. There are three transfers ready to immediately participate and four freshmen ready to make an impact.
Preseason Big 12
In their inaugural season in the Big 12, Sun Devil Volleyball was picked third in the 2024 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Poll, and graduates Claire Jeter and Argentina Ung were selected to the preseason team. Third is the highest preseason poll ranking for Arizona State since 2015 when the team was picked to finish second in the Pac-12. Additionally, this is the first preseason team nod for both Jeter and Ung.
All-Americans on the Roster
The Sun Devils have two All-Americans on the 2024 roster. ASU returns Jeter, who earned AVCA All-America Honorable Mention. Additionally, Arizona State brings in transfer graduate Ung, who was an honorable mention All-American last year as well while playing for Washington State. Both were first-time All-Americans.
Breakdown by Position
Pin Hitters
The Sun Devils are returning both starting outside hitters from 2023 in senior Geli Cyr and graduate Roberta Rabelo. Cyr had the best season of her career last fall, playing in every match and collecting 328 kills (second on the team). She also was second on the team in digs with 323. In the first-round sweep against Georgia, she hit .529, which was the second-best clip in an NCAA Tournament for a Sun Devil. For her efforts, she was Pac-12 Honorable Mention. Rabelo had the most productive season of her career, as she was third on the team in total kills with 247. She had eight matches with double-digit kills.
The team also returns graduate Shania Cromartie and sophomore Jillian Neal, both outside hitters. Despite not playing in the front row much in 2023, Cromartie was a key contributor in the back row, playing in 24 matches and tallying 82 digs and 21 kills. Neal emerged as a serving specialist in her freshman campaign, playing in 20 matches and serving up 16 aces.
There are two new pin hitters on the roster this year: junior transfer Bailey Miller and freshman Kiylah Presley. Miller came to ASU from West Virginia University where she played her first two seasons, totaling 662 kills, 464 digs, 68 blocks and 37 aces as a key starter there. For the freshman, Presley was a 2024 Under Armour All-American.
Middle Blockers
The top returner of the middle blockers is graduate Claire Jeter who started in all but two matches last season. She led the defense at the net with 130 blocks, the most she’s had in a single season. A threat on offense, she was ranked 40th in the nation in hitting percentage at the end of the regular season. She finished the year with a .373 clip to lead the team, the highest hitting percentage by a Sun Devil since 2003. She neared 200 kills on the year with 195. She also was second on the team in aces with 43, the most she has had in a single season.
The only other returner is sophomore Hokulani Perez. She played in two matches last season, four total sets. In one match that she started, she had three kills and a block.
The two newcomers in the middle are graduate transfer Savannah Kjolhede and freshman Jadyn Wilgus. Kjolhede came to ASU from Indiana University and was a key part of the Hoosiers in each of the last three seasons. She was the 14th Hoosier to record 300 career blocks, finishing in 10th for career blocks with 359. Additionally, she has 637 kills in her career and has a hitting percentage of .305. Wilgus was a 2023 AVCA Third Team All-American and has been training with the team since January.
Setters
Only one setter returns from the 2023 roster and it’s redshirt freshman Brynn Covell. She did not play her freshman year.
The new setter on the roster is graduate Argentina Ung, a transfer from Washington State. In 2023, she earned AVCA All-America Honorable Mention honors. She was also all-region honorable mention and Pac-12 Honorable Mention in 2023. She has 2,513 career assists, earning over 1,200 in each of the last two years.
Liberos
The Sun Devils return their starting libero from 2023, graduate Mary Shroll. She led the team in total digs with 458. She had double-digit digs in 29 of the 35 matches, including two with 20 or more. In the NCAA Regional Semifinals against Stanford, she notched a season-high 30 digs to lead all players. This season, she was second on the team in total aces with 43. For her efforts, she was AVCA All-Region and Pac-12 Honorable Mention.
ASU also returns junior defensive specialist Estella Zatechka. In 2023, she played in 25 matches, totaling 87 digs.
Freshmen Bella Faria and Piper Rama are the new faces in the libero group. Faria was a 2023 AVCA Second Team All-America and played outside hitter in high school. From Phoenix, Rama won four state championships: three in beach volleyball and one in indoor.
Up Next
The 2024 season begins on August 30 against Butler at the LUV Invitational hosted by Lipscomb. For a first look at the squad, the annual Maroon and Gold Scrimmage will be held on August 24 at 1 p.m. MST in Mullett Arena, and it is free to the public.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Kimberlie Haner
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