TEMPE — In another matchup between two ranked opponents at Desert Financial Arena, No. 8 Arizona State claimed its fifth consecutive Big 12 win against the No. 24 Colorado Buffaloes.
Both teams entered Friday’s contest holding undefeated records in conference play, as the Buffaloes held a 5-0 mark in Big 12 action, while the Sun Devils boasted a 4-0 record. With both teams trying to stay undefeated, it ASU who came out on top with a clean 3-1 victory.
This 3-1 win marks the Maroon and Gold’s fourth consecutive win over the Buffaloes dating back to last season. It also adds to the Sun Devils’ immaculate 8-0 record at Desert Financial Arena.
“The atmosphere here is amazing. It’s really nice we have the support and there’s no doubt our fans have our back,” senior setter Sydney Henry, who recorded 32 assists on the night said.
Led by junior hitter Noemie Glover, ASU controlled most of the first set. After maintaining a comfortable lead for the majority of the first frame, the Sun Devils took the set 25-20.
Glover helped lead the charge again in the second set, as the Devils captured a 25-18 win to jump ahead 2-0 in the match.
In just two sets, ASU racked up 12 blocks on the backs of strong performances from Glover and senior outside hitter Bailey Miller. With both racking up more than 30 kills throughout the match.
Ultimately, after an early rally by junior pin attacker Ana Burilovic, the Buffaloes took third set in a 25-20 finish. It marked just the second time this season ASU dropped a set at home — the last time being against Florida Gulf Coast on Sept. 5.
This set win from Colorado also ended the Maroon and Gold’s streak of 11-straight set wins over Big 12 opponents.
Nonetheless, the Sun Devils found their groove once more, taking a quick lead in the fourth set. They claimed the largest lead of the night after going up by eight points and ultimately closed out the last set 25-23.
Strong blocking gave ASU an edge all match long, as it combined for 22 blocks over 4 sets.
“We always talk about being aggressive blockers and we did a nice job defending the left side tonight,” ASU coach JJ Van Niel said.
The Sun Devils having faced a substantial amount of adversity over their last five games, playing three ranked teams — No. 16, Baylor, No. 18, Kansas and now No. 24. Colorado.
Despite having to face multiple ranked opponents, the prep and mindset doesn’t change for Arizona State.
“I don’t really care if they’re ranked or not we’re going to prep the same way,” Van Niel said. “If you start making one match bigger then another that’s when you lose when you’re not supposed to. We treat every game like it’s a championship match.”
Now ASU prepares for a third consecutive game against a ranked opponent in No. 21 BYU. The squads will square off in Provo next Thrusday, Oct. 16, at 5 p.m. MST.
With only 13 more games left in the season, the Sun Devils remain in a strong position to take the Big 12 and position themselves among the top teams in the NCAA rankings.
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