(Tempe, AZ) After a three set sweep last night, #3 Arizona State faced #6 Texas A&M. The Aggies disposed of Colorado State in four sets.
Texas A&M displayed great team play as did Arizona State in the first round and this match was expected.
The winner advances to next weekend Regional Third Round.
First Set
Both teams came out fast going point for point until the Sun Devils went up 7-4. This Aggie team stayed concentrated and tied it back up 8-8.
Texas A&M then used their power game on a 3-0 run 11-8. Back came the Devils with two consecutive blocks and tied it again 11-11.
At the television timeout, TAMU lead 15-12. Both squads kept the back and forth affair with neither team going up by more than four points.
Coach Van Niel not wanting to let the first set get away, called a timeout trailing 17-13. The Sun Devil offense was not passing the ball as well as they did against New Hampshire.
Out of the timeout, ASU got two quick points, but then fell back behind by four points again as their kill shots sailed out of bounds and the Aggies blocks kept the Devils potent offense at bay in the set.
Texas A&M took the first set 25-19 off their power game. The Sun Devils from the middle of the set forward were forced to play catchup.
Arizona State’s hitting percentage was only .138 compared to the Aggies .267
Second Set
There’s not been too many times that ASU has been down at home and they came out with a new sense of purpose and even with the Aggies still playing well, they led 8-5.
Geli Cyr was one of bright spots with her kill shots, but TAMU would not go away and the Sun Devils went up by one 11-10 off a Claire Jeter two handed put back.
With both teams not willing to give an inch, the set would come down to unforced errors.
Texas A&M Coach Jamie Morrison called timeout after a 5-1 Devils run heading down the stretch at 18-13.
Arizona State put a lot of pressure on the Aggies front line with their offensive attack but as two of the best in the West, TAMU came racing back with a 6-0 run to tighten up the score 21-19.
Roberta Robelo stepped up and smashed one to give ASU set point at 24-20 and Aggies timeout.
Finally, Texas A&M committed a service error on the third set point as the ball sailed out of bounds to give the Sun Devils the set to tie it at 1-1.
Third Set
Texas A&M came out strong with a combination of hard smashes and blocking and took a 5-3 lead.
With a service ace by Ava Underwood, TAMU went up by five 8-3 and Van Niel was forced to call a timeout.
Out of timeout, the momentum stayed with the Aggies as they doubled up ASU 10-5. Continuing their assault, TAMU kept the kill shots coming and the Sun Devils had no answer down 15-7.
Arizona State passing continued to be an issue as too many times they would have to just softly get the ball back over the net without an opportunity for a kill attempt.
The Sun Devils needed a big run to get back into the set. Still not passing well, ASU had dug themselves a huge hole as they trailed by nine 21-12.
At set point for Texas A&M, Kjolhede got one last kill in before the Aggies put away the third set 25-15 to take a 2-1 set lead.
The effort by Arizona State was subpar and Coach Van Niel was not happy. Sloppy passing led to a lack of kill shot opportunities. Now down 2-1, there was no room for error as the Sun Devis would have to win out to advance.
Fourth Set
Jeter put the Devils up 3-2 temporarily but once again TAMU tied it up on the next side out. Off the block, Kjolhede gave the team some slight breathing room at 8-5.
The Aggies came back as they had all match long and tied it at 9-9, then challenged a point for Arizona State which went in favor of the Sun Devils 10-9.
After the challenge, ASU continued their inconsistent play and took a point lead into the television timeout 15-14.
Geli Cyr put away two cross court kill shots to keep the Sun Devils up 17-15 heading into the stretch run.
With renewed aggressive play, Cromartie and Jeter got two crucial points to extend their tenuous lead 20-17.
With the final television timeout in the set, this one was headed to the wire 20-19 Sun Devils.
Maddie Waak with a timely service ace 22-20 attempted to put the nail in the coffin of ASU’s season.
From there on, each attempt by the Devils had to be perfect. Texas A&M said, “no way” as the Aggies won and advanced over the #3 Sun Devils.
Arizona State’s season comes to a close. They had a phenomenal season only losing twice before tonight finishing the season with a record of 30-2.
Tonight’s attendance was 3,322.
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