Seniors shine in Sun Devils final home game in NCAA Tournament

TEMPE, Ariz. – Senior setter Sydney Henry and senior outside hitter Bailey Miller finished their last game in Tempe with a bang in their victory against Utah State, advancing to the Sweet 16 for ASU volleyball.

Henry finished the game with 32 assists, which was complementary to Miller’s 18 kills, in which both players led the Sun Devils for each stat. This contributed to a 3-1 win, replicating the unbeaten streak at home for the second year in a row.

“Yeah, I mean it’s super special,” Miller said. “I always love playing on this home court, and the community that we’ve built in Tempe is just so special.”

Sun Devils home warriors

The performances the Maroon and Gold have displayed on their home court have been nothing short of dominant, beating every team in Desert Financial Arena by two or more sets in each match this season. A key to the Sun Devils’ success has come from the trust and enjoyment they have in playing together.

“It means everything to be playing with these girls,” Henry said. “All these girls are my second family, and so I wouldn’t wanna do it with anyone else.”

The synergy of the team together during games in times of adversity paid dividends in the way they played throughout each match. Whether it was the players on the court or on the bench, they’re all supporting each other.

“The energy that they bring definitely affects the court,” Henry said of her bench. “We play so much better when they have the energy there.”

Advancing to the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years is something that this squad looks forward to exceeding this season. Miller was one of the few returning players from last season who lost in the second round, missing the Sweet 16.

“I was one of the only ones left here from last year when we got upset,” Miller said. “So I think going into it, all the girls just wanted to stand behind those that didn’t get to go to the sweet 16 last year and just really took it seriously.”

This isn’t ASU’s first rodeo

In coach JJ Van Niel’s three-year tenure at the school, the program has won back-to-back Big 12 championships and made the NCAA Tournament every year.

“We can trust that he knows what to do and that he’s going to tell us exactly what we need to win,” Miller said. “So it’s nice to have somebody like that, that can just be like, hey, you need to do this, and then this will happen.”

Sticking to the same formula that has gotten them to this point is the most important part of the Sun Devils game plan.

“Yeah, I think the theme of what we’ve been talking about is just don’t change anything,” Miller said. “We know we’ve been doing it all year, just trusting in that.”

Arizona State faces off against Creighton at 11 a.m. in the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Thursday. It will be available to watch on ESPN2.

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