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Sun Devils Get Monumental Win at Stanford

by thesundevils.com
Mar 21, 2021

Final Box | Boxscore

STANFORD, Calif. - For the first time since 1982, Sun Devil Volleyball took down the Cardinal on their home court, winning in a five-set thriller (19-25, 26-24, 25-22, 19-25, 15-11) on Sunday afternoon.

Notable Stats

  • Arizona State (5-11) earned its first win against Stanford (2-6) since 2015 and its first win at Stanford since 1982. The Sun Devils bounced back after getting swept on Friday.
  • Sophomore Iman Isanovic had a big day for the team, leading all players with 21 kills, as well as collecting 13 digs for her fifth double-double of the season. This is her third time in her career earning 20-plus kills.
  • Coming off the bench, freshman Ella Snyder came up big for ASU, dishing out 41 assists along with 14 digs and two kills. Like Isanovic, this is her fifth double-double of the year. 
  • Freshman Roberta Rabelo had a career high in kills with 15, her second time reaching double figures in that category. She also had two solo blocks, another personal best. 
  • Leading the defense was sophomore libero Annika Larson with 19. She was one of five Sun Devils to reach double figures in digs, joining Snyder (15), Isanovic (13), junior Paige Denton (11) and freshman Marta Levinska (10).
  • ASU reached double digits in team blocks for the sixth time this season with 10, led by five from sophomore Kennedi Boyd. Boyd also earned the first service ace of her career in the first set and had a career high in digs with seven.

Quote
Arizona State Head Coach Sanja Tomasevic
"We asked the team to get a little better at everything we need to do individually, I told them that if we do that the worst thing that can happen is we will get better and lose, but if we all get a little bit better and we play as a team, we will win. I'm so happy for the girls, they worked really hard and made some good adjustments since Friday. Now it's time to get some rest and get ready for another tough Pac-12 trip next week."

Set One: Stanford 25, Arizona State 19
Stanford started off the match strong and maintained the lead throughout. After a long rally, Boyd had a huge block to minimize Stanford's lead to 5-4. After a 4-0 scoring run by the Cardinal, the Sun Devils took their first timeout, trailing 19-10. Arizona State had a 5-0 scoring run, getting some momentum and cutting their deficit to 22-17. The comeback came up short, however, as Stanford won 25-19. 

Set Two: Arizona State 26, Stanford 24
The Sun Devils carried the momentum from late in the first set to battle early in the second. A kill from Isanovic gave the early lead to ASU at 6-5. After the Sun Devils built up a lead, the Cardinal responded with a 3-0 scoring run to make it 12-11 and forced the Sun Devils to take a timeout. Senior Megan Beedie ended Stanford's run with a kill and kept ASU's lead 13-11. It was back and forth for the rest of the set, ASU holding its lead and Stanford getting close. Stanford finally was able to take the lead at 23-22, but Arizona State responded immediately, scoring two in a row to make it set point, 24-23. It took extra points, but the Sun Devils came away with the set, 26-24.  

Set Three: Arizona State 25, Stanford 22
The third frame had a similar feel as the second, Arizona State holding the lead and Stanford threatening the whole set. A kill by Isanovic got the Sun Devils' lead to 6-4. Catching Stanford on its toes, Snyder had a kill and brought ASU's lead to 13-10. The Cardinal was able to keep it close, tying the game 18-18, but Levinska had a kill to get the lead back 19-18. Back-to-back kills from Isanovic clinched the third set at 25-22. 

Set Four: Stanford 25, Arizona State 19
The fourth set was a game of runs, starting with Stanford jumping out to a 4-0 lead. Rabelo had a big kill to cut the deficit to 8-4. The Sun Devils tied the game up 10-10 with a service ace and a 4-0 run. Stanford put together another run, scoring three straight to bring their lead to 15-12. The Sun Devils then scored four in a row with two kills from Isanovic and tied the game 16-16. ASU used a timeout after Stanford went on another 3-0 scoring run. This time Arizona State did not have an answer and Stanford ended the set, 25-19. 

Set Five: Arizona State 15, Stanford 11
The Sun Devils started the final frame with a 4-0 run and forced Stanford to take a timeout in the short set. After the Cardinal responded to cut into the lead, a kill from Rabelo got ASU to a 7-4 lead. Arizona State took a timeout after Stanford came within one at 9-8. Following an attack error from the Cardinal, ASU extended the lead, 13-10. The Sun Devils held onto the lead and took the fifth set 15-11. 

Up Next 
Arizona State is scheduled to travel to Boulder, Colorado, next weekend, to play Colorado on Friday and Sunday. 

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