ARIZONA STATE VOLLEYBALL BESTS BYU IN TEMPE THRILLER

TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State volleyball rallied from a first-set loss to overcome No. 21 BYU’s strong service skill 3-1 in a tight hometown throwdown on Friday. 

The No. 8-ranked Sun Devils resumed their battle with the Cougars that began with a five-set showdown in Utah earlier this season. Arizona State emerged victorious in both bouts. That said, BYU brought the best serving in the Big 12 and tested the Sun Devil defense throughout.

“They're the best serving team in the conference,” ASU head coach JJ Van Niel said. “They put a lot of pressure on teams from the service line.”

The Cougars applied force early, recording four aces in the first set. 34 of the last 37 wins for BYU came after winning the opening set. Pair service success with 39 attacks to ASU’s 29, the Cougar offense sent the Sun Devils stumbling through set one, falling 25-17. 

“Teams can fold on that kind of thing,” Van Neil said. “We just battled them.”

The Tempe fans were treated to a tense battle during the second set. Arizona State tied the set at 20 after clawing back from a three-point deficit. The programs then traded the lead six times.

“I think I aged a few years today,” Van Niel said jokingly of his stress during the second set.

A block by graduate student Colby Neal helped ASU secure set two, 28-26, tying the match. From there, the Sun Devils adapted their blocking and made key switches to keep BYU at bay.

“We could all feel like on the court, our collective energy,” Neal said. “That always just makes me much more confident. It helps everybody else do exactly what they have to do.”

“So that was a huge part.”

It was a versatile night for Neal, putting up eight kills in 14 attempts with two digs and six total blocks. Neal described the ability to interchange those positions as the beauty of ASU’s system. 

Neal said, “We have weapons everywhere.”

The stressful second set proved to be all senior Bailey Miller needed to fire up the ASU offense.

“This group is so special,” Miller said. “We worked even better under pressure, and we were able to come back, and I think it just made us stronger. But I never have any doubt in any of my teammates.”

Miller notched 20 kills, her fourth match with at least 20, while also recording the third most digs for ASU. The outside hitter also credited her senior teammate Tatum Parrott, who had seven key kills for Arizona State, four of which came during the fourth and final set.

“(Tatum) does a really good job getting those balls, getting kills in those big moments,” Miller said. “Especially if one of us aren't having a good night. She's always ready to step up.”

BYU will remain winless against the Sun Devils under head coach Heather Olmstead, extending a streak of losses to five-straight. Star freshman Suli Davis led the Cougar charge with 20 kills.

“They're doing a really nice job,” Van Neil said of BYU. “They've had some injuries this year that have set them back a bit, and they're still battling, and that's a very good team.”

Next up, Arizona State hosts its rivalry against the University of Arizona in Tempe on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. MST.

“We’ve got to keep going on our defense,” Van Neil said. “I think we can still be even grittier.

“It'll be nice to get them, not just physically fresh, but also mentally fresh. This is the time of the season where people are a little mentally fried, but I don't really take my foot off the gas.”

With its 10th Tempe win, Arizona State stayed undefeated at home. Only six matches remain on the road to a second-straight Big 12 title and a berth to the NCAA Tournament for the 21st time.