(Tempe, AZ) All three pin hitters notched double-digit kills as No. 12 Sun Devil Volleyball beat Iowa State in a 3-1 win (25-18, 25-18, 22-25, 25-14) at home on Sunday afternoon.
Notable stats
Arizona State (11-3, 2-1 Big 12) handed Iowa State (8-6, 2-1 Big 12) its first conference loss, holding the Cyclones to a .119 hitting percentage.
ASU recorded double-digit blocks for the second match in a row (sixth time this season), earning 10. Senior middle blocker Ella Lomigora led the Sun Devils in blocks with five.
Junior outside hitter Una Vajagić recorded double-digit kills with 18 while hitting .371, her eighth match in a row reaching double figures (12th time this season). She also earned her fifth double-double this season with 12 digs, making it her third in a row and fifth in the last six matches. Additionally, she had four blocks, matching her career best.
Senior opposite hitter Noemie Glover had 13 kills for her eighth match in a row with double-digit kills and 11th this season. She also neared a double-double with nine digs, also chipping in three blocks.
The third pin hitter in double figures was graduate outside hitter Aniya Clinton with 12 on a .360 clip, collecting double-digit kills for the fifth time this season.
Junior defensive specialist Piper Rama set a new career high in digs in this afternoon’s match with nine digs in the victory. She also had an ace, upping her season total to 24, which is a team best.
Setters freshman Elle Mottola and senior Isabella Constantini split the setting duties in the afternoons match. Costantini recorded 22 assists followed by Mottola’s 21 assists in the victory. Costantini also added two aces and seven digs.
Set one: ASU 25, Iowa State 18
The Sun Devils and Cyclones started off the set going back and forth, but a kill and block by Glover sparked the Sun Devils lead at 10-5. Vajagić and Lomigora both earned kills after a short 3-0 Iowa State run. Costantini served ASU on a 6-0 run to add to the lead, 17-8. Clinton and junior middle blocker Zoey Burgess notched a kill each, making the score 20-10. The Cyclones stayed resilient as a 4-0 run helped stay in the set. Burgess continued to shine in set one as she gained another kill along with a block assisted by Mottola, 23-15. Vajagić sealed the set with a kill for Arizona State to win, 25-18.
Set two: ASU 25, Iowa State 18
Similar story for the Sun Devils and Cyclones to start the second set as it went back and forth early. However, kills by Glover and Clinton forced Iowa State to burn a timeout early with the score at 8-3 as ASU rolled on a 4-0 run. Vajagić kept the points coming as her kill alongside Mottola secured another 4-0 run, improving to 13-6. Iowa State made their own run, having coach JJ Van Niel use a timeout as ISU’s 5-0 run turned the score to 15-13, ASU. Momentum swayed back and forth in the latter half of the set as both teams traded points. The Sun Devils finished with five-straight points, influenced by an ace from freshman libero Paige Lehman and blocks from both Lomigora and Vajagić, to win the set, 25-18.
Set three: Iowa State 25, ASU 22
The Cyclones had a much needed first half lead, starting off the set at 7-3. Clinton with her ninth kill gave the Sun Devils a 4-0 run, evening up the score at 7-7. Vajagić recorded her 10th kill of the match, but the Cyclones early in the third set went up 12-9, having the Sun Devils burn their first timeout. Clinton with her fourth kill of the set helped ASU stay in the match at 15-13. Burgess and Mottola recorded a block to spoil Iowa State’s 4-0 run, which gave Arizona State its own 4-0 run, sealed with an ace by Rama, forcing Iowa State to burn a timeout. Vajagić recorded six kills in an 8-3 run between the Sun Devils and Cyclones to even the score at 21-21. The Sun Devils could not complete the third set comeback as Iowa State won the set, 25-22.
Set four: ASU 25, Iowa State 14
Glover’s name was called a lot to open up the scoring for the Sun Devils with three kills to get her to double digits. Clinton and Burgess secured a block to give ASU the lead in the fourth set at 8-5. Costantini recorded an ace for the Sun Devils, followed by three blocks, to rally a 9-0 run, giving ASU a commanding 17-6 lead. Vajagić recorded two more kills alongside Glover with one of her own during the run. Clinton got ASU the sideout with a kill after a 4-0 Cyclone run. Back-to-back kills for Burgess moved the score to 22-13. Match point was secured with an ace from junior libero Faith Frame. The Sun Devils claim victory in the fourth set, winning 25-14.
Up next
Arizona State will be back at Desert Financial Arena next weekend to host two matches: Colorado on October 9 and No. 9 TCU on October 11.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Kimberlie Haner
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