(Tempe, AZ) No. 21 Sun Devil Volleyball never went out of style, claiming their 14th sweep of the season and eclipsing the 20-win mark with a sweep over the California Golden Bears (25-20, 25-19, 25-13) at Desert Financial Arena on Friday night.
In Arizona State’s (20-3, 8-3 Pac-12) third-straight victory over Cal (14-8, 3-8 Pac-12), Marta Levinska proved that she was all too well with a team leading 18 kills, the only Sun Devil with double-digit kills on the night. Claire Jeter was dominant around the net by making sparks fly with a season-high eight blocks and added nine kills to her tally.
Notable Stats
The Sun Devils obtained their first 20-win season since 2014, and it’s the 11th 20-win season in ASU history. The 20 wins are tied for the most wins this century and is tied for the eighth-highest win total in program history.
It marks the third-straight victory over the Golden Bears and improves ASU to a clean 5-0 record at home this season.
Arizona State has 14 sweeps this season, tied for the second-highest total of three-set wins in program history.
With senior opposite Marta Levinska’s 18 kills on the evening, she continues to leave a permanent mark in the record book by moving up to ninth in program history with 1,361 career kills. She hit .350 and added seven digs.
Senior middle blocker Claire Jeter was fearless after obtaining a season-high eight blocks, eclipsing the mark set against Utah on October 20. She also had nine kills on a .533 clip.
Graduate setter Shannon Shields had five blocks on the evening, making it the third time this season she’s had five or more blocks in a single match this season. She paced the offense with 33 assists, a match high. Additionally, she led the team in aces with three.
Graduate middle blocker Maddie McLaughin stepped into the daylight with five blocks, the seventh time this year she’s achieved the feat and the fourth time in the last five games she’s had at least five blocks.
On defense, graduate libero Mary Shroll and junior outside hitter Geli Cyr tied with 11 digs to lead the team. Cyr also added six kills.
Friday’s victory puts the Sun Devils one win away from 800 program victories.
Set One: ASU 25, Cal 20:
The opening act of Tempe’s Version featured a 4-0 run led by Jeter who, like an airplane flying, achieved three blocks in the first four points of action to open the match. The Bears responded by winning three of the next four points, but the Sun Devils won four-straight rallies, taking a 9-3 lead and prompting Cal to take a timeout. Following the timeout, the visitors managed to cut into the ASU lead at 14-12, but the Sun Devils never missed a beat by going on a 7-3 run led by kills by five different Sun Devils, taking a 21-15 lead. The Bears then won the next four of five points, forcing a Sun Devil timeout at 22-19, where later Levinska played her ace to win the set 25-20.
Set Two: ASU 25, Cal 19:
Entering the second part of the show, Cal was lighting on their feet by opening with a 6-1 lead, But the Sun Devils shook off the early deficit to tie the match at 8-8, led by three blocks by McLaughin and two kills from Levinska. The Sun Devils gained their first lead of the match, which would be forevermore, at 10-9, where a kill by Cyr forced Cal to take a timeout. Coming out of the break, the Sun Devils never missed a beat with two more kills from Levinska, and one apiece from Jeter and Cyr to go up 14-10, but the Bears forced a Sun Devil timeout at 14-12. Following the timeout, it was points and points going back and forth until the Sun Devils claimed the second set 25-19.
Set Three: ASU 25, Cal 13:
Entering the final era of the show, the Sun Devils took off in a getaway car with a 7-2 run led by three kills by Levinska, forcing an early Cal timeout. Following the stoppage, the Sun Devils knew exactly what they were doing by extending their lead to eight, leading 13-5 in the set after two kills apiece by Cyr and Levinska. After three-straight points by the Bears, a 5-0 run by the Sun Devils put them ahead 18-8. taking advantage of Cal’s errors. Later, a second timeout by Cal was called with ASU leading 21-10. Eventually, the Sun Devils called endgame, claiming the match and set, 25-13.
Up Next:
The Sun Devils will shift their attention to a top-25 matchup against No. 3 Stanford on Sunday at Mullett Arena in the Halloween game. The match starts at 12 p.m. MST and can be seen on Pac-12 Arizona.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Kimberlie Haner
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