Volleyball is a team sport and while players can shine in moments, the whole team is responsible for the result.
This has been ASU volleyball's primary focus for the season as head coach JJ Van Niel emphasizes spreading the ball out to everyone on offense.
"If we get to the end of the match and I see someone at 53 attempts and the next closest is 20, then we've done something wrong," Van Niel said.
This trend has played out in the team's wins and losses. In the Sun Devils' loss at Baylor on Sept. 27, outside hitter Geli Cyr had 14 more attempts than the next-highest hitter. Cyr still had eight more attempts than anyone else against Utah on Oct. 2 but ASU won 3-1 against the Utes.
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ASU generally plays better as a team when it involves more of its hitters. Cyr exhibited strong play against Baylor and Utah with double-digit kills in both matches. However, ASU volleyball stays competitive against tough teams when its well-rounded roster is utilized properly.
This season, the Sun Devils have been successful in getting to all hitters. The consistent starting six front-row players all have over 200 attempts.
The first reason this works is that if one player is having a bad game, five other players are warm and ready to pick up some hits.
"I trust every single hitter out there, so it doesn't matter who's on fire that day," graduate setter Argentina Ung said at a press conference.
While Cyr leads the team in kills in most matches, each player has had their time to shine. Graduate middle blockers Savannah Kjolhede and Claire Jeter have led the team in kills against Utah and BYU on Oct. 4, respectively. Graduate outside hitter Shania Cromartie also led the team against GCU on Oct. 21.
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The team's depth puts pressure on opposing defenses. When players across the entire net are involved in the play, the opposing defense has to speed up and usually cannot set up a proper block.
This explains why ASU leads the Big 12 in kills per set at 14.39 and is third in opponent blocks at 1.82. The Sun Devils' tempo with a slew of hitters ensures opponents are unlikely to set up a full block.
This development is largely due to Ung, who has the experience and skill to identify such opportunities.
"I know there's going to be a lot of one-on-ones," Ung said. "Our passing has been great so far (and) our hitters put the ball away."
READ MORE: Transfer setter Argentina Ung's binational experience perfects a talented team
The team sees this trend too, as Kjolhede knows how hard it can be for a middle to keep up with a good offense.
"Whenever you have a setter like Argentina, who can put balls wherever she wants, as the other team it makes it a lot harder to shut down middles, pins, anything," Kjolhede said.
ASU will face its biggest test of conference play No. 8 Kansas on Nov. 6. The Jayhawks lead the Big 12 in blocks per set and are second only to ASU in opponent hitting percentage.
This game will test the Sun Devils' offensive prowess and could decide the Big 12 championship as Kansas is undefeated in conference play while ASU trails by one game.
Edited by Jack Barron, Abigail Beck and Alysa Horton.
Reach the reporter at aldeutsc@asu.edu and follow @AlanDeutschend3 on X.
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Alan is a sophomore studying sports journalism. This is his second semester with The State Press. He has also worked at Blaze Radio.
