Five years ago, the Sun Devil Volleyball program was in a very different place. With new recruits, a new coaching staff, a new conference, and the addition of multiple graduate students, the program has made a name for itself on the national stage.
With just one match left in the season and the NCAA tournament on the horizon, players are now taking time to reminisce on the struggles and success that Sun Devil Volleyball has shown them, documenting the lessons learned through trips out of Tempe and celebrations in locker rooms, both home and away.
Shania Cromartie
In the world of sports, teamwork and camaraderie are incredibly important. For Cromartie, every set, every match and every moment is a chance to grow with her team. With over 100 collegiate matches played in her career, she has played a lot of volleyball over the years.
Going into the 2023 volleyball season, Arizona State was not expected to do what it did. In a moment of growth and unity, ASU swept Stanford for the second time in program history. The last time the Sun Devils swept the Cardinal was in 1993.
“I think last year, going into conference, we were a lower ranked team. Being able to put our heads down and just keep working no matter what – we came in believing in ourselves and being able to persevere. It was really cool,” Cromartie said.
“Winning isn’t everything” is an old sports cliché, but it remains true to Cromartie who says the support she receives from her fellow teammates means so much more. Cromartie, who is originally from Florida, has found a home away from home at ASU.
“Having that family, no matter what I need on and off the court. Knowing that I have just a great support system, no matter if it’s Graham (Rossini, Sun Devil Athletics Athletic Director), or anyone. Everyone’s excited to help you and excited to help you become the best version of yourself. It’s just super special to me,” Cromartie said.
Geli Cyr
As an outside hitter, Cyr is used to finishing off long rallies with an explosive kill. In her four years as a Sun Devil, she has been able to achieve this feat, one of 21 in team history to surpass 1,000 career kills. This success on the court has followed along with her academic achievements, inching Cyr ever closer to graduation.
The time she has spent working towards this feat has left her with an incalculable amount of memories on the court. Headlining them is one magical moment that she will take to graduation day as her favorite.
“Sweeping Stanford in Mullet (Arena) last year,” Cyr said. “I haven’t lost a game in Mullet. So we call it ‘Mullet Magic.’ It’s just such a good energy in there. And that game especially was such a cool vibe.”
As one of three in this class who have been here for four or more years, Cyr has been through it all in Tempe. Seeing the program reach incredible heights has been an amazing end to her career.
Claire Jeter
From Texas A&M to ASU, Jeter’s journey towards graduation has given her perspective in and outside of Sun Devil Athletics.
Going back to her summer as a rising sophomore and a “Sun Devil” was just the mascot of a possible transfer school. Now, nearly four years later, with a degree in sociology and criminal justice, Jeter looks back on not only her opportunity but its meaning.
During her time at ASU, Jeter found that being a Sun Devil means being competitive, determined and having a sense of pride for both the school and the sport of volleyball. A starter in all four of her years here, she has climbed up the ASU record book for career blocks while a Sun Devil, in the top three currently. With the stands filling up with a loyal fan base, Jeter is proud of the volleyball team’s current position.
“I’m loving how many people we have watching us now. We’re trying to make a difference here for volleyball at ASU, and we’re going to build on that. They’re going to keep building and making us better,” Jeter said.
The “A-S-U” chants at the volleyball games roar through the halls and echo throughout the community. The support is reciprocated by the volleyball players who strive to be active members in the community. Whether it’s volunteering at food drives or at retirement homes, Jeter says it’s about bringing people together, much like how the ASU has brought her closer to her Sun Devil Volleyball family.
Savannah Kjolhede
Kjolhede came to Arizona State from a record-breaking career at Indiana, looking for change and an opportunity for growth. She found a supportive home that has left a lasting impression on her. She has only been with the Sun Devil volleyball team for the 2024 season, but her ASU family has fully embraced her.
“I think coming here, I was looking for a big change, and I wanted to be surrounded by people that could help me. And I think JJ, Preslie, Ellen, Shaughn and especially the team have just made that possible here. It’s such a great environment,” Kjolhede said.
The support that Kjolhede has received is something she says she hopes to pass on to future athletes. She hopes to leave a legacy of good character, aspiring to be a role model for future Sun Devil athletes.
“I want to be someone that the freshman can look up to and say, ‘That’s how I want to treat people, and that’s how I want to carry myself and play.’ I want to be like a role model for the younger generation,” Kjolhede said.
Volleyball may be temporary, but being a positive role model is a full-time job. Whether on the court or off the court, Kjolhede says she hopes she can be someone that others look up to.
Roberta Rabelo
Rabelo’s senior year in 2023 as a Sun Devil marked her most successful yet. All that practice and time spent in games led Rabelo to believe there was more on the table. She returned for her graduate season in 2024, feeding off last year’s success and making the most of the opportunity to introduce her team to her home country of Brazil.
At the beginning of this season, the Sun Devils traveled to South America for a flurry of exhibition matches in Brazil. Roberta took up the role of a tour guide, making the most of her last weekend there.
“It was just awesome. And everyone was so happy. Everyone enjoyed the trip. It was just nice to see everyone so happy about seeing the good side of where I come from,” Rabelo said.
Connecting her Sun Devil family with her roots in Brazil might have been the high point of the preseason, but there is more on the table as Roberta has helped the team to another successful season this year.
Mary Shroll
A lifelong Sun Devil, Shroll’s athletic and academic journey initially took her from her hometown of Tempe to the courts of Los Angeles. She started at Loyal Marymount and was there for four years, graduating with her bachelor’s degree.
With more left to learn and two more seasons of eligibility left, Shroll turned towards home. Now, she has over 1,800 digs and has been a standout defensive player in the country.
“Being from Tempe, Arizona, growing up here, I watched these games when I was young, in middle school, in high school. The fact that I’m back here is such a full circle moment, such a surreal moment. I’m the one in the jersey now, and having all those little young girls and fans looking up to us, knowing that was me, it means so much,” Shroll said.
As her career winds, she was recently drafted by the Vegas Thrill in the Professional Volleyball Federation (PVF), continuing to play the sport she loves.
Argentina Ung
Ung transferred to Arizona State after playing four years at Washington State and has seen her skills flourish. She currently has over 3,500 assists in her career. She says she found a sense of community and family unlike anything she has previously experienced.
“Being a Sun Devil means being part of a community and being part of a big family. We could be in another state, and you find a person that’s like, ‘Go Devils!’ The Tempe community is really tight. Wherever we go, we get recognized,” Ung said.
Ung emphasizes the support of Athletics Director Graham Rossini as being particularly meaningful. She points out Rossini’s involvement with the volleyball team, noting his attendance at practices and out-of-state games.
“Graham is a big supporter. He loves the program. We wouldn’t be we wouldn’t be who we are without him. I think that’s a big thing,” Ung said.
With the help of Rossini, along with guidance from head coach JJ Van Niel and the rest of the coaching staff and team, Ung says she hopes the volleyball program will continue to grow. She says the goal is for volleyball to be synonymous with ASU.
Article by Thomas Cogdell & Marcus Lopez, Cronkite PR Lab
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