TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State cruised to a four-set victory over Utah State on Friday to secure its spot in the Sweet 16. The Sun Devils hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. However, after getting upset in the second round in 2024, the Sun Devils are headed to the Sweet 16 in 2025.
“Really special moment for our program, really proud of the kids,” coach JJ Van Niel said. “They came out and just played really, really clean volleyball. It’s really special. Exciting just to keep going.”
ASU demonstrated why it’s a No. 2 seed
Utah State scored the first two points of the first set, but after that, it was all ASU. The Aggies brought the set within two points midway through, and then the Sun Devils closed the first set on an 11-2 run.
Senior outside hitters Bailey Miller and Tatum Parrott, along with junior opposite hitter Noemie Glover, played key roles at the net in the first set as they each did throughout the game.
“There were definitely some things we thought we could exploit,” Van Niel said. “Like our middles didn’t get a lot of kills tonight, but there’s a reason. They were fronting the [Utah State] middle every time, and the right side is really aggressive.
“I think one of the things you have to do in volleyball is take what they’re going to give you, and so that opened everything up.”
ASU took the first set, 25-15, behind five kills by Glover, four from Parrott and three from Miller. All three players ended the night with double-digit kills.
Van Niel added that because the Aggies funneled everything to the middle, it opened up space for ASU’s outside hitters to do damage.
ASU continues to roll
The Sun Devils started the second set fast, thanks to a couple of errors by the Aggies and a Miller kill. ASU grew its 3-0 lead to 10-5 before widening it to eight points late in the set.
The Sun Devils led 19-11 before the Aggies made a short rally. Back-to-back kills by Utah State’s sophomore outside hitter Mara Stiglic brought the set within five points, 22-17. Then, ASU finished the second set with a Glover kill to win it, 25-17.
“10 (Noemie Glover) is so dynamic,” Utah State coach Rob Neilson said. “She’s going to be a Player of the Year candidate, absolutely, just because of her physicality, but the consistency that she’s played with throughout this year.
“The trajectories that she’s hitting at, there’s not too many people that can touch that.”
Utah State staves off elimination
However, Utah State didn’t go down without a fight. ASU seemed in firm control with a two-set lead, looking for its second straight sweep, but the Aggies had other ideas in mind.
Utah State entered the night on a 22-game win streak. The Aggies went undefeated (18-0) in their conference and upset Tennessee, the No. 7 seed, in the first round.
In the third set, with the Aggies’ season on the line, play remained close throughout. ASU and Utah State were tied 11 different times, and there were four lead changes in the set.
The largest lead of the set was three points, and it happened six times. Sophomore opposite side hitter Loryn Helgesen and Stiglic led the Aggies with six and four kills, respectively, in the set, and ASU had its most errors of the night.
Utah State fought off elimination and won the third set, 25-22, to force a fourth set.
ASU flexes its muscles
That’s when ASU got back to Sun Devil volleyball. The Sun Devils played their cleanest volleyball of the night and cruised to victory.
“Our team’s been pretty resilient all year, and you could respond two ways after that third set,” Van Niel said. “I thought during that set we were pressing a little bit on some stuff. We weren’t as patient as we needed to be, and the fourth set was just a reminder, we don’t have to do anything different.
“Keep playing our game, and they came out and did just a wonderful job.”
The race to 10 points stayed tight, but then ASU took over. The Sun Devils got everyone involved, capitalized on unforced Utah State errors, and ASU opened a nine-point lead, which only grew to 10 points by the end of the set.
ASU took care of business to win the fourth set, 25-15, and win the match, 3-1, to advance to the Sweet 16 to face Creighton, who’s the No. 3 seed.
The Sun Devils shined when the lights were the brightest
The Sun Devils played their best when it mattered most. ASU ended the night with its best hitting percentage (.419) of the season and didn’t have a single hitting error in the fourth set.
“We play well under pressure, and I think that’s why we’re able to come back from big leads a lot,” Miller said. “I think that all three of us (Miller, Glover and Parrott) are just always ready to go, and when the team really needs it, that’s when we’re able to perform.”
Miller led the way with 18 kills, and Glover was just behind her with 17. Parrott was the third Sun Devil with double-digit kills (13), and she added six digs and a block. Miller also had nine digs and three aces, and Glover had three digs with three blocks.
Freshman outside hitter Kiylah Presley also got in on the action with six kills, two digs and two blocks and grad student middle blocker Colby Neal led the team with four blocks on the night.
Senior setter Sydney Henry turned in another great night with 32 assists in what was her last time playing at Desert Financial Arena, and sophomore libero Faith Frame delivered as her reliable self in the backcourt with 13 digs.
“Your libero is like your backcourt quarterback, and at the beginning of the year, I think she was hesitant,” Van Niel said. “We have some older players, it’s a new team, but she’s really done a nice job of commanding that and really understanding, this is my role, and I can be aggressive and go take balls from other people.”
The Sun Devils now have about a week to prepare for Creighton, as their Sweet 16 match will be on either Thursday or Friday next week.
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