(Tempe. AZ) A Territorial Cup match tonight at Desert Financial Arena with the two in-state rivals.
Arizona came in on a three game winning streak and a 14-9 overall record and 8-5 in the Big XII. The Wildcats were 4-5 on the road. Most recently, they beat two ranked teams in #13 TCU and #21 BYU.
The #8 Sun Devils came in with only three blemishes on their 20-3 record and were undefeated at home at 11-0. Head Coach J.J. Van Niel has only lost one regular season match in three year of coaching ASU.
The home attendance had seen six matches with over 3,000 fans and four matches in excess of 4,000 in the house.
First Set
The Sun Devils jumped out to a 4-0 lead before the Cats got on the board. The passing and power game was overwhelming in the early stages of the set.
Arizona crept back off a service ace 9-6, but the Devils responded with a 3-0 run and an Wildcat timeout.
The Sun Devils came out smoking after the Arizona timeout and increased their lead 16-7 before the UofA was forced to call another timeout.
Arizona had no answer for the power game of the Sun Devils. On the block, ASU stuffed the Cats’ offense and they didnt reach double points until it was 22-10 Devils’ advantage.
The first set was a “take you behind the woodshed for a butt kicking” as the Devils had no mercy on Arizona 25-11.
Second Set
Arizona State took the first two points but the Wildcats fought back to 4-3 and took the lead 9-8 on back to back service aces by Jordan Wilson.
This time it was ASU that called the timeout and they responded with a 4-2 run 12-10, but the resilient Widcats came roaring back at retook the lead 13-12.
With a single point Arizona lead twice in the second set, ASU answered and then it became a see-saw battle.
A service error by Bailey Miller and a Cats’ service ace gave the UofA their biggest lead at 18-15 causing Coach Van Niel to call his second timeout.
Heading down the stretch, Arizona had a 21-17 before a service error gave the side out back to the Sun Devils. The Wildcats still had a four point lead 23-19 and the serve.
On Set point, Britt Carlson had the kill to give Arizona the win in the second set to tie the match at one set apiece.
Jordan Wilson came alive for Arizona and led the match with 8 kills. Arizona’s Sydnie Vanek still had a 1.000 hitting lead.
Third Set
With the match tied, the third set early never saw either team up by more than two points.
Tied at 6-6 and the Wildcats with the serve, ASU got two quick points 8-6 before Arizona came back to tie it at 8-8.
The passing and blocking by both squad really picked up and it seemed this set in particular would set the tone for the rest of the match.
The Devils took their largest lead 15-11 causing a Wildcat timeout. The large crowd also came alive as the yellow towels given out at the entrance coming into the arena were waving in unison.
Arizona State maintained their four point lead through the middle of the set 18-14.
If the Cats were to make their move, it had to be at this point trailing 20-16 as they called a timeout to regroup.
With no more room for error, Arizona was down to its last gasp 23-18 and another timeout.
At the end, the Devils front hitters caught fire and put the set away 25-18 to take a 2-1 set lead.
Photo – Bill McCulloch/602 Sports Talk
Fourth Set
The Sun Devils took an early 6-3 lead off of a couple of monster blocks.
Arizona would come back within two points and the Devils would take it back to a three point lead and back and forth we went.
At 11-9 Sun Devil lead, Arizona’s Cisneros put the kill away and it was 11-10.
Neal came up with another monster block to give Arizona State a brief two point lead 12-10 before the Cats retuned the fast and tied it back up at 12-12.
The UofA got their first lead off the set 13-12.
Devils tied it back up at 14-14, but again Arizona wouldn’t die and regained the lead 15-14.
Now it was the Cats turn to put the pressure on as the match progressed and a two point lead 18-16.
A four point lead 21-17 at this point of the set was huge and the UofA seem to have the cards with the Sun Devils calling another timeout.
Arizona State came roaring back with three points off long rallies to pull within one point 21-20 an made the Cats use another timeout.
Tied at 21-21, the Wildcats broke the run at and took a brief 22-21 lead before ASU tied it again 22-22.
Now with the lead 23-22, the Sun Devils seemed to have regained their mojo at least for the time being. In this topsy turvy set there still was no clear cut momentum for either team.
What seemed like time stood still for a minute, the Sun Devils showed why they’re the #8 team in the country as they finished off their downstate rivals 25-22 to win the match 3-1.
Wrap Up
ASU continued their mastery of the Wildcats with their sixth consecutive victory. The Sun Devil defense held Arizona to a sub par hitting percentage .092.
Individually, Colby Neal had a big night with 10 kills and 9 blocks. Noemie Glover led the team with 13 kills to go along with her 4 blocks.
The blocking for the Devils was the difference as they stymied the Arizona offense. After the first set blowout, the Cats played with a lot more grit but were just worn down by Arizona State.
Attendance was 7,703 the single highest crowd for Sun Devil Volleyball this century.
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