TEMPE, Ariz. - No. 9 Arizona State volleyball is once again putting together a spectacular year in volleyball, already clinching the Big 12 and has one game remaining before the tournament with an arena full of support.
“The community around us is so great,” senior outside hitter Bailey Miller said. “On the day before Thanksgiving, having this many people be able to come out is super special.”
There were 3,868 in attendance for ASU’s Wednesday, Nov. 26, 3-1 win over Cincinnati. It’s the seventh consecutive win for the Sun Devils, and they are now 13-0 at Desert Financial Arena this season. ASU has not lost in Tempe in nearly a full calendar year, since its regional loss to Texas A&M last December.
Although the Sun Devils put another one in the win column, it was a game that was closer than the final score suggested. There were numerous times where ASU fell behind and had to crawl its way back in the game.
The team had to make adjustments during the game to counter its opponent.
“They're giving us shots that we weren't really anticipating,” sophomore libero Faith Frame said. “And that adjustment, it took a second, and then we finally got it. And that's what the coaches were saying – let's just adjust. Let's start doing this. Let's take a different blocking scheme. Let's step a different way.”
Cincinnati came out firing in the first set with a 7-2 lead and never relinquished it. The Bearcats won 25-21 and struck first, something that has not been very common for ASU on its home grounds.
“I love that we played hammer like Nolan tonight, and I thought they did a great job serving us,” head coach JJ Van Niel said. “They put a lot of pressure on us from the service line.”
The second and third sets proved to be tightly contested as well, but the Sun Devils took the sets. Both of them ended in a 25-21 score.
However, ASU played its best in the fourth and final set. The Sun Devils won 25-14 and went on an 8-1 run to end the match.
Miller was the main offensive force on the night, finishing with a team-leading 19 kills and leading the team with 21 ½ points.
She emphasized how she’s been working with the other setters in practice to help her get better.
“Improving my IQ, trying to hit that back third of the court and then just continuing to work on my passing,” Miller said. “Just minor tweaks, but it's made a big difference.”
Apart from Miller, junior opposite hitter Noemie Glover racked up 13 kills on the night while senior setter Sydney Henry and sophomore Brynn Covell set the team up the entire match – Henry had 25 assists and Covell had 24 assists. Frame added 15 digs on the night.
Frame played her first game against the Bearcats since transferring from the program in the offseason. She made the 2024 All-Big 12 Rookie team with Cincinnati.
“There's definitely added motivation just knowing who's on the other side and kind of trying to remember all their tendencies having played with them for a while,” Frame said.
As the end of the regular season approaches, the tournament looms large for ASU. Despite the challenge it brings, coach Van Niel is taking things one game at a time.
“We just got to get ready to go,” Van Niel said. “Tomorrow's Thanksgiving. They won't practice tomorrow. Then Friday, we got to practice and get ready for an early Saturday morning match at 11, and then Sunday, we'll figure out where we're at and go from there.”