The Arizona State volleyball team won two of three at the Oklahoma University Nike Invitational, improving the squad’s record to 6-3 to start the season.
Match One: Louisiana
The Sun Devils came out swinging in the first match of the weekend, ending the first bout with a .291 hitting percentage and a 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-21) win over the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns.
The outside hitters found success in the early matchup, as both junior outside hitters Claire Kovensky and Andrea Mitrovic reached double-digit kill totals to lead ASU in the win. Mitrovic also finished with 11 digs, earning her second double-double of the season.
Senior libero Courtney Leffel continued to be a defensive force for the Devils as well. Her streak of matches with double-digit digs is now at 12 in a row, which is a new career-long. She had 16 in the match, which led all players.
Freshman middle blocker Kennedi Boyd started for Arizona State in place of Megan Beedie. The freshman had the best game of her career so far, finishing with a career-high five kills on a .455 hitting percentage.
Additionally, senior setter Callie Jones seems to have won the position battle for the setter spot. She finished with a season-high 26 assists in the win.
Match Two: Oklahoma
The Sun Devils forced the second match of the day to five sets after going down 2-1 early, but ultimately lost to Oklahoma 3-1 (22-25, 25-17, 25-16, 12-25, 15-12).
Mitrovic secured her third double-double, and her second in a row on Friday. She led all players in the game with 17 kills and a season-high 17 digs.
Furthermore, it was another day at the office for Leffel, who extended her double-digit dig streak to 13 games after a 29-dig performance. This was her sixth game with 20-plus digs.
Sophomore setter Noa Miller had her second double-double of the season with 19 assists and 10 digs.
Boyd had a career day on the first day of the weekend, and in the second game, she finished with a career-high six total blocks, five block assists and one solo block. She also had five kills for the second match in a row.
Match Three: Georgia Tech
The Devils finished their weekend with a win over Georgia Tech in four sets (25-16, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21) on Saturday afternoon.
ASU improved to 6-3 after taking down the Yellow Jackets (6-2). Mitrovic and Boyd earned all-tournament nods.
Mitrovic with a big weekend for @SunDevilVB. The transfer from Buffalo is looking like an offensive force in her junior year. https://t.co/2EvbpyNdOU
— Ryan McClure (@rmcclure_) September 14, 2019
In her first tournament where she found herself on the court often, Boyd made a statement. The freshman broke many career marks including seven kills on a .545 clip in the final game, both of which are career-highs.
Five Sun Devils finished the match with seven or more kills to sustain a balanced attack. Mitrovic concluded her weekend strong, leading the team with 11 kills.
The final point. #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/alFkb2E66i
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) September 14, 2019
Middle blocker Avital Jaloba led the team in blocks with five. Arizona State finished the match with a season-high 13 team blocks.
Leffel extended her dig streak once more, and Kovensky led the defensive unit in digs with 14 to go along with eight kills.
The setters continued to rotate as Jones and senior Nicole Peterson both had 11 assists, while Miller added nine.
“It was nice to get the win after the tough loss last night,” head coach Sanja Tomasevic said. “With all of the adversity that has been hitting our team, with injuries and sickness, it’s nice to go home with two wins from the tournament.”
The Devils’ final non-conference matchups will be next week in Las Vegas at the Rebel Challenge. ASU will play UNLV on September 19 and Kansas on September 20 before gearing up for Pac-12 play that begins on Sep. 26.