Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.

10 new faces for the ASU Volleyball team in 2016, but they're still planning to win a Pac 12 Championship

New leadership and ten players take over the ASU volleyball team.

against Texas Southern Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015 at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe. The Sun Devils defeated the Lady Tigers three games to none (25-15, 25-17, 25-8).
against Texas Southern Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015 at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe. The Sun Devils defeated the Lady Tigers three games to none (25-15, 25-17, 25-8).

Despite the adversity that comes with a new group of teammates and coaches, the ASU volleyball team looks to reach the NCAA Tournament for a fifth-straight season. 

Former head coach Jason Watson guided the Sun Devils for the past seven seasons. Last year, Watson led ASU to the NCAA Tournament, but the team suffered a crushing 3-0 loss to Florida State University in the first round. 

Following last season, Watson took the head coaching job at the University of Arkansas, leaving ASU tasked with finding a new head coach. ASU hired Stevie Mussie to fill the position. 

"Every time we come out, we want to win," Mussie said. "We're trying to come out here and win a Pac-12 Championship, win a National Championship." 

Mussie knows what it's like to win a National Championship — she did just that as a member of the 2005 University of Washington team, and in 2014 as an assistant coach for Penn State. 

The new coaching staff brings a whole new level of experience to the table. ASU recently added former Olympian Tamari Miyashiro, who competed for Team USA in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

"(Miyashiro)'s unbelievable; the girls have really taken to her," Mussie said. "She's only been in the gym with us for a little over a week, but with that said they have improved tremendously over that week-and-a-half period." 

Ten new student-athletes joined the ASU team in 2016, a more than 50 percent turnover from the previous year. Six are incoming freshmen and four are transfer students, presenting a malleable lineup.

"It's so much different. It's way more fast-paced, and much bigger girls," said outside hitter Maya McClendon, who transferred to ASU as a senior from Louisville. "I'm very fortunate to have these coaches to help push me every day, as well as the rest of my team." 

The team hosted its annual Maroon vs. Gold scrimmage Aug. 20 at the Wells Fargo Arena for fans to come out and see the 2016 squad. The Maroon team won the match 3-1 (12-25, 25-19, 25-22, 28-26). 

"I thought I started off sloppy, and personally I think I just needed to settle down and get back into the groove of things, but I feel like I finished well," senior outside hitter Cassidy Pickrell said. 

ASU plays 14-straight road matches to start off the 2016 campaign, and doesn't play at home until Sept. 30 against the University of Oregon. The team plays at home just 10 times in 32 games. 

"We're going to make the road our home," Mussie said. "We went away for preseason for a few days, and got them started in that whole process."

ASU will lean on Pickrell and other returners, such as senior outside hitter BreElle Bailey, to guide the team through a rough schedule of games.

"It's always hard when you have a new coach that brings in at least nine different players to have good chemistry, but we're just a bunch of clowns," McClendon said. "I think humor is what builds us together."

The Pac-12 preseason coaches poll didn't show the team much support. ASU is ranked 11th in the coaches poll. 

"I always think those are funny because it's not how you start; it's how you finish," Mussie said. "Nobody's seen us; we haven't seen anyone else." 

The ASU volleyball team starts off their lengthy road schedule at the University of New Mexico Tournament where they'll face off against Fairfield University, the University of New Mexico and Abilene Christian University.


Reach the reporter at amsosa2@asu.edu and follow @A_sos27 on Twitter

Like State Press Sports on Facebook and follow @statepresssport on Twitter


Continue supporting student journalism and donate to The State Press today.

Subscribe to Pressing Matters



×

Notice

This website uses cookies to make your experience better and easier. By using this website you consent to our use of cookies. For more information, please see our Cookie Policy.