(Tempe, AZ) The Nation’s best descended on Tempe this weekend for the NCAA Volleyball West Regional.
In the first match, the #6 Texas A&M Aggies went up against the Colorado State Rams. Both teams came in flying high.
The first set went to the ladies from College Station Texas 25-20. Colorado State answered in the next set 26-16 to tie the match 1-1.
The third set was epic as both teams went right at each other strength on strength, Each team had small point runs, but no one could pull away. The Rams had 5 set points but couldn’t put away a stubborn Aggie squad, and Texas A&M finally won 29-27 to go up 2-1 sets.
The fourth set didn’t disappoint as Texas A&M took an early lead just to see the Rams comeback with a strong push to draw even, but couldn’t get over the hump as the Aggies won the match 25-23 and advance on Saturday.
The Sun Devils (29-2) came in as one of the hottest teams in the country with a 17 game winning streak with their last loss to the Baylor Bears back on September 27 in Waco Texas. The Devils also ran the table at home with a 13-0 record.
New Hampshire Wildcats (18-9) arrived in the desert on a modest 3 game winning streak, but only 2-6 on the road.
First Set
ASU began the match with a quick 4-2 lead. The Sun Devils had a decisive height advantage and took advantage of it early.
New Hampshire took an early timeout down 7-3 off a double block wall of Roberta Rabelo and Savannah Kjolhede.
The Wildcats hung tough coming back to trail only by a single point 10-9. Claire Jeter and Geli Cyr snuffed out the brief run by New Hampshire as ASU again, extended their lead 16-12.
Arizona State down the stretch opened up a 20-14 lead thanks to a monster kill by Shaina Cromartie forcing a Wildcat timeout.
After the timeout, the power game of the Sun Devils was too much as they won 25-17 on set point kill by Claire Jeter.
ASU had 16 kills in the first set to just 9 for the Wildcats.
Photo – Sun Devil Athletics
Second Set
Jeter began the second set with a nice kill shot to take a 1-0 lead and a follow up block for a 2-1 lead.
New Hampshire got its first lead 3-2 off a kill from Meredith Hohnbaum, but the Devils came back with three quick points to regain the lead 5-3
Again the Wildcats showed their grit and took a 7-6 lead off an attack error by Cyr.
Jeter served up an ace to give ASU a 9-7 lead and Roberta Robelo put away a kill from Jeter to go up 10-7 and another timeout by Coach Christopher Feliciano.
Sun Devils continued their power game with Kjolhede’s kill that got the fans out of their seats and a 14-10 advantage.
Throughout the set, New Hampshire continued to claw back to three points down 17-14 causing Coach JJ Van Niel to call time out to settle his troops down.
ASU scored three quick points to put the Wildcats in a precarious position at 20-14, needing to shut down the Sun Devils.
Jeter bookended two ace serves on both sides of the New Hampshire timeout. The final nail was courtesy of block by Kjolhede to win 25-17 to take a commanding two sets to none.
Set Three
The Wildcats came out with a 5-3 early lead with no room for error third set. Tying the match at 10-10 some confidence began to build. As they took a 12-11 lead things turned quickly on a service error by Avery LaPore and a 12-12 tie.
A quick time out to break the Sun Devils momentum and training 15-12, they traded points 16-13.
With Jeter’s ace, ASU was back in control and an 18-13 advantage with grew to 20-13 off a kill from Cyr and another last gasp timeout by the Wildcats.
Jeter was on fire with another ace serve as the Sun Devils were set to close this match out.
New Hampshire had other ideas as they ran off three quick points 21-17 forcing a Van Niel timeout.
Backed into a corner, Rachel Grier got a kill to stave off elimination temporarily at 22-19.
Devils came back with two quick points and on match point, Cromartie advanced the team to Saturday’s Second Round with a hard smash to face Texas A&M.
Wrap Up
In all three sets, ASU’s blocking ability and backcourt defense came through to stymie every Wildcats attempt to come back.
Photo – Sun Devil Athletics
The quick passing and setting the big hitters kept New Hampshire’s defense reeling. The Devils have made three set victories almost commonplace.
Graduate players Claire Jeter had 6 service aces and libero Mary Shroll had 15 digs to pace the #3 seed Devils
Up Next
The second round foe, Texas A&M will present a much tougher challenge as their size matches up with the Sun Devils. Game time is 6 p.m. on Saturday. Tonight’s attendance was 3,301.
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