#17 Volleyball Beats Butler to Start 2024 Campaign

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 17 Sun Devil Volleyball kicked off the Big 12 era with a win over Butler in four sets (23-25, 25-7, 25-20, 25-17) in the first match of the season at the LUV Invitational at Lipscomb on Friday afternoon.

Notable Stats

• For the 14th year in a row, Arizona State (1-0) won its season opener. ASU also improves to 3-0 over Butler (0-1) all-time. The Sun Devils out-hit the Bulldogs .346 to .140.
• Two returning starters led the team on offense. Senior outside hitter Geli Cyr got her year off to a strong start, reaching double figures in kills with a team high of 15 (one off of her career high) and adding a career-high five aces. Graduate middle blocker Claire Jeter hit a blistering .714, a career high, and had 10 kills. Jeter’s hitting percentage is the fifth best in ASU history in the rally-scoring era.
• The three transfers all saw time for ASU in the match. Graduate setter Argentina Ung paced the offense, dishing out 33 assists and adding six kills of her own. Graduate middle blocker Savannah Kjolhede was a force at the net, collecting nine blocks to lead all players and adding five kills. Junior Bailey Miller had six kills and five blocks in her Sun Devil debut.
• A few Sun Devils made their collegiate debuts in the match. Redshirt freshman Brynn Covell saw action for the first time in her career, playing as a defensive specialist and notching eight digs. Her serve was on fire to start the match, earning three aces in the first set. Freshman Bella Faria made her collegiate debut, starting the match as a defensive specialist and getting two digs. 
• Graduate libero Mary Shroll had her third-straight match with double-digit digs, dating back to last season, with 12 in the win. She added five assists.

First win of the season ??

First win of the Big 12 era ??#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/BD7JDMPLE8

— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) August 30, 2024

Set One: Butler 25, ASU 23
ASU got off to a hot start, scoring six in a row behind three aces from Covell to make it 8-1 early. The Bulldogs responded, putting together an 8-2 run to make it 10-9 in favor of the Sun Devils. Butler took the lead at 16-15, forcing an Arizona State timeout. After taking back the lead at 20-18 with a block from Jeter and Miller, it was back and forth between the squads. Ultimately, the Bulldogs barely…