Balanced Effort Gets Sweep Over Iowa State for #9 Volleyball
See the full match recap with the box score, quotes, team stats and match leaders.
TEMPE – Ending the season with a perfect record in Mullett Arena, No. 9 Sun Devil Volleyball beat Iowa State in straight sets (25-21, 25-15, 25-22) on Thursday night in front of a packed crowd.
Notable Stats
- Arizona State (27-2, 15-1 Big 12) swept Iowa State (10-15, 4-10 Big 12) for its 18th sweep of the year and 15th win in a row. That winning streak is tied for the second longest in program history.
- ASU got its 27th win, which is tied for the third-most in team history and is one win away from last year's total for the most this century. Additionally, the 15 conference wins is the most in program history (previously was tied for first with 14).
- The Sun Devils have a chance to clinch a share of the Big 12 title this Saturday at Colorado. A win in Boulder would secure at least a share. It would be the first conference championship in program history and the first Big 12 title in school history.
- Graduate middle blocker Savannah Kjolhede had a stand-out performance, notching 10 kills and eight blocks to lead the team. It was her fifth match of the year with double-digit kills.
- With five Sun Devils earning at least six kills, graduate setter Argentina Ung spread out the offense, dishing out 37 assists. She also had five digs.
- Tied for the game high in digs were graduates Shania Cromartie and Mary Shroll with 14 each. For Cromartie, it was her seventh match with double-digit digs, adding seven kills as well. This was Shroll's 27th match of the year with double-digit digs.
- Back after two matches off, graduate outside hitter Geli Cyr had nine kills, eight digs, two blocks and an ace.
- At opposite, graduate pin hitter Roberta Rabelo collected eight kills, five blocks, five digs and two aces for a well-rounded performance.
- Attendance at the final Mullett match of the year was 4,538, the fifth most at a match since 2013 and the fifth match of the season with more than 4,000 in attendance.
- In Mullett Arena this year, Arizona State finishes with a perfect 6-0 record, the second year in a row that ASU went undefeated in Mullett.
Set One: ASU 25, ISU 21
The Sun Devils started the match well, getting out to a 4-2 advantage. Cromartie recorded a kill and Claire Jeter and Rabelo teamed up for a block in the early going. The Cyclones responded with a 5-1 run to take a 7-5 lead. Then, a kill from Kjolhede and a service ace from Cyr equalized the set at seven. Down 10-8, ASU went on a 4-0 scoring run to steal the momentum from Iowa State. Rabelo and Jeter notched two crucial kills during the run. The back-and-forth action resumed after the media timeout, as neither team was able to gain a clear advantage over the other. With the set tied at 20, Kjolhede rose up for a big block to give ASU the lead which prompted an ISU timeout. From there, the Sun Devils seized the momentum, as Rabelo and Kjolhede had two blocks in a row to take a 23-20 lead. A kill by Cyr put the Sun Devils on set point, and Kjolhede executed another to secure the first set, 25-21.
Set Two: ASU 25, ISU 15
The two sides split the first six points in the second set, with Rabelo, Cyr and Kjolhede putting kills on the board for Arizona State. Iowa State gained the upper hand with a 3-0 run to take a 6-3 lead. The Sun Devils showed their moxie, going on an impressive 9-3 run to surge ahead, 12-9. Following a timeout from the Cyclones, Iowa State scored two points before a 5-1 run gave ASU a 17-12 lead, an ace by Rabelo capping off that run and eliciting an ISU timeout. As play resumed, Arizona State continued to dominate, stretching the lead to 20-12 after another Rabelo service ace. Leading 20-14, the Sun Devils went on a 5-1 run to conclude the second set. Three-straight kills courtesy of Kjolhede, Cromartie and Jeter gave ASU the win in set two, 25-15.
Set Three: ASU 25, ISU 22
Similar to the second set, the third set began with both teams splitting the first six points. The Sun Devils then took a 7-3 lead with a 4-0 run. The run included a block by Rabelo and Kjolhede and a service ace from Bella Faria. After an Iowa State timeout, the Cyclones scored three-straight points before Arizona State gained those points right back with the help of kills by Kjolhede and Cyr. A 5-2 run by ISU then cut the ASU lead to 12-11, and the Cyclones proceeded to take a 16-15 lead. Despite the adversity, the Sun Devils went on a 3-0 run to wrestle the lead back. Another Kjolhede kill gave ASU an 18-16 advantage before Iowa State called timeout. Ahead 21-20, Arizona State scored three in a row to reach match point. Cromartie finished off the set and the match with a tip over the block, giving ASU a 25-22 third set win and a 3-0 match victory.
Up Next
Arizona State will travel to face Colorado in Boulder on Saturday at noon MST, live in ESPN+.
Final: 3-0 Win
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