Sports360AZ
By Jeff Metcalfe
Arizona State volleyball begins NCAA Tournament play at home for the first time since 1995.
Big 12 champion ASU as projected was among the top 16 national seeds on selection Sunday, earning home court advantage for the first and second rounds. The Sun Devils reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2023 even while starting on the road against Georgia and host BYU.
“We’ve got great fans that support us,” ASU coach JJ Van Niel said. “It’s a special benchmark for our program. The players set a couple of goals, to win the Big 12 championship and host – and we accomplished it. It’s a testament to all the work and everything they’ve done to accomplish those goals.”
#ASU volleyball is No. 3 in ncaa tournament opening at home Dec 6 vs New Hampshire ..: Colorado state and Texas A&M also coming to Tempe sub regional pic.twitter.com/pxrldsQBpm
— jeffmetcalfe (@jeffmetcalfe) December 1, 2024
ASU (29-2) is undefeated at home (13-0) and going into the postseason on a 17-match win streak. With two more wins, the Sun Devils can tie for the most single season in school history (31 in 1982).
They can extend the home and overall streaks starting Friday at Desert Financial Arena against New Hampshire (18-9). The second round is Saturday with the ASU-New Hampshire winner facing the winner between Texas A&M (19-7) and Colorado State (20-10).
No. 3 seed ASU is in a bracket headed by No. 1 seed Nebraska (29-2). If seeding prevails, the Sun Devils would meet No. 2 seed Wisconsin (23-6) in the Sweet 16 in Lincoln, Neb., with a chance for a rematch vs. Nebraska in the Elite Eight. Regionals are Dec. 12-15.
Nebraska beat ASU 3-0 in Lincoln on Sept. 13.
“It’s kind cool we’ve already been in that environment once,” Van Niel said of Nebraska’s Devaney Sports Center. “If we were fortunate enough to get that far, which we have a long way to go, the fact you’ve played there is probably helpful. It’s definitely a big, loud environment. From that standpoint, it’s great we already went out there and played them.”
Six Big 12 teams made the 64-team NCAA field including Kansas, Utah and Baylor as sub regional hosts plus TCU and BYU. Arizona was among the first four teams left out by the selection committee and instead will play in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.
ASU is unbeaten since losing its only Big 12 match at Baylor on Sept. 27.
#ASU volleyball coach JJ Van Niel on hosting in NCAA Tournament pic.twitter.com/nwvHnBfER1
— jeffmetcalfe (@jeffmetcalfe) December 2, 2024
“This year we wanted to go further,” outside hitter Roberta Rabelo said. ASU is No. 8 in the coaches rankings, highest under Van Niel and overall since 2015. ASU’s Claire Jeter and Brynn Covell are transfers from Texas A&M, a No. 6 seed that the Sun Devils could play Saturday.
For Savannah Kjolhede, starting middle blocker in her first season as a transfer from Indiana, is going to the postseason for the first time in her five-year career.
“It’s surreal,” Kjolhede said. “I thank JJ and his whole entire staff for bringing me on to have this opportunity. I can’t imagine a better way to end my college career than being on this team.” ASU was a No. 5 NCAA seed in 2023. The No. 3 seeding is its highest since the current seeding format began in 2000. The Sun Devils have played six home matches with more than 4,000 in attendance and nine with more than 3,000.
“We’re igniting the Valley and bringing volleyball to Tempe,” outside hitter Geli Cyr said. “It’s becoming a volleyball school, which is so cool. We haven’t lost at home. I think that has a lot to do with the crowds. I would hate to play here if I wasn’t a Sun Devil.”
“You don’t want to miss it,” libero Mary Shroll of Tempe said. “It’s going to be something special. I think we can seriously pack DFA. It gets loud in there and makes a huge impact to whatever teams are coming are way. It can be a factor for sure.”
