IRVING, Texas – After winning the conference title, No. 8 Sun Devil Volleyball took home the most Big 12 awards with JJ Van Niel winning Big 12 Coach of the Year, Mary Shroll earning Big 12 Libero of the Year and Argentina Ung taking Big 12 Setter of the Year, with five all-conference honors as well, as announced on Tuesday.
In addition to the major awards, Arizona State has four on the All-Big 12 First Team with Geli Cyr, Claire Jeter, Shroll and Ung and one on the second team in Savannah Kjolhede. The five on all-conference teams is tied with last season for the most in a single season in team history. The two major position conference awards are the first two for the program. For the complete list of Big 12 winners, head to the conference website.
Van Niel is the second head coach in program history to win two coach of the year honors, along with Patti Snyder (1992, 1990), but he is the only coach to win in consecutive years. This honor makes him one of only 16 head coaches in the history of Sun Devil Athletics to win back-to-back conference coach of the year honors. He is the first to accomplish the feat since Tim McCormack was named Pac-12 Lacrosse Coach of the Year in both 2021 & 2022. Included on this exclusive list are legendary head coaches Linda Vollstedt, Jim Brock, John Spini, Zeke Jones and Greg Kraft.
BACK-TO-BACK COACH OF THE YEAR ??
Congratulations to @jjvanniel for being named @Big12Conference Coach of the Year! ??#ForksUp pic.twitter.com/IVCK4QhE0m
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) December 3, 2024
The 2024 Big 12 Champions, this group helped Arizona State finish the regular season with a 29-2 record, going 17-1 in Big 12 play. The team is on a 17-match winning streak heading into the tournament. The 29 wins are the most this century and two wins away from the most all-time (31 in 1982). Additionally, ASU has 19 sweeps this year, one away from the program record. The Sun Devils went undefeated at home in the regular season for the first time since becoming an NCAA sport.
On defense, graduate libero Mary Shroll has led the charge all year, ranking in the top two all throughout the season in…
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