The No. 14 Arizona State Sun Devils (11-1) wrapped up the Webb-Burbridge Classic with a 3-0 win against Montana State (2-9) at Desert Financial Arena on Saturday, finishing the weekend with no losses.
Senior outside hitter Geli Cyr and graduate student middle blocker Savannah Kjolhede shined in Saturday’s victory, with the pair tallying over 10 kills each. Graduate student setter Argentina Ung joined the shining offense with 32 assists and a 0.857 hit percentage.
The win was the Sun Devils’ third win and sweep of the Webb-Burbridge Classic during the weekend. ASU finished with an 11-1 record and a four-game winning streak going into Big 12 conference gameplay.
“It was a good weekend,” ASU head coach JJ Van Niel said after the game. “Today was overall a good match. We had a tough time in the second set, but we did well to battle back.”
The Sun Devils were looking for a third straight victory in the tournament following wins against Memphis and Prairie View A&M earlier this weekend.
ASU ended the first set of the game on a 14-4 run, with Cyr recording five kills. Ung led the team with 12 assists after the first set.
Montana State rallied and took the lead midway through the second set. It went down to the wire as both teams were tied 22-22. After a timeout called by Van Niel, ASU went on a 5-2 to close and win the set.
“We talked and decided on what to do defensively,” Van Niel said. “This game was going to be a good test. Going down late is something that will happen during the season. They did a great job on executing it.”
Kjolhede proved to be the difference late in the second set. The Texas native recorded two kills and one block in the final five rallies.
“Everything that [Van Niel] does in practice is intentional, so that whatever we are doing in practice it’s like a game,” Kjolhede said on how the team adapts to different situations. “We worked on that, and when we get to the game, we know what it feels like because we do it in practice.”
The No. 14 Sun Devils proved too much for Montana State in the third set as Van Niel’s side finished with a 12-3 run, ending the game 25-12. On the defensive side, graduate student libero Mary Shroll–who was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday–finished the game with 13 digs.
Saturday was the 14th-straight game that Shroll recorded digs in the double digits. The Tempe native, Ung and Kjolhede were selected to be on the Webb-Burbridge Classic All-Tournament Team.
Overall, five Sun Devils finished with five or more kills during the game, including Ung.
“[Ung] is a leader on the court and a great volleyball player,” Van Niel said. “I’m not surprised when she plays well because I see it every day in practice, but she knows how to play the game. We are lucky to have her.”
Arizona State will start Big 12 conference play on the road Sept. 25 as the Sun Devils face Texas Christian University (8-2) in Fort Worth, Texas, at 6 p.m. PST.
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