With just one game left in the season, ASU volleyball's subpar record and second-to-last standing in the Pac-12 made it seem like there wasn't anything left to play for, with the NCAA tournament far out of the question.
The more apt way to view it, though, was that the Sun Devils had nothing to lose, and they played like it.
As for their bitter in-state rival, the Arizona Wildcats had everything to lose, sitting firmly on the postseason bubble and one bad loss away from potential elimination.
Combined with the chance to play spoiler and the emotions of senior day, it was clearly an exciting opportunity for a Sun Devil team that had won its last two games after a six-game losing streak.
ASU found a way to capture the ever-meaningful victory in their season finale, showing the same heart and effort it had throughout a difficult and disappointing season in fighting back to take down the Wildcats in five thrilling sets Saturday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena.
After an entirely back-and-forth match, ASU (12-20, 5-15 Pac-12) took the air-tight decisive fifth set by a score of 20-18 to seal their road win in the Territorial Cup series.
Devils win an absolute THRILLER and take the 5th 20-18. Huge finish to the season for @SunDevilVB. ASU picks up 0.5 in the territorial cup. pic.twitter.com/31PXqLe7Ym
— Jeff Griffith (@Jeff_Griffith21) November 27, 2016
"I honestly think this last match ... is the culmination of how much work and how much effort we're able to put in on the court," sophomore setter Kylie Pickrell said, who had a double-double with a career-high 64 assists and 10 digs. "It shows we battle. We finally were able to battle longer than our opponent."
In the first set, Arizona was very much in control at the outset, leading by five early on, but ASU continued to hang around, staying within about three or four for the most part. UA scored the final three points of the first to take the set, 25-19.
By that point, emerging star freshman outside hitter Ivana Jeremic already had six kills for ASU – she closed the match with a career-high and team-high 21, as well as 10 digs for a double-double. Junior middle blocker Oluoma Okaro added another 20 kills and 8 digs.
The Sun Devils found their swagger in the beginning of the second set, taking advantage of a few Wildcat miscues to lead 6-2 early in the frame, but Arizona quickly responded and regained the advantage. ASU fought hard to keep the deficit at no more than three for the remainder of the set.
As a result, they were able to take a 22-21 lead, force a 24-24 deuce, and eventually win the set, 26-24, on a UA net violation, tying the match at one set apiece heading into the break.
"I think it's impressive that there's all this noise, all these things that you can't control that you hear, that you watch," head coach Stevie Mussie said. "To have this core of kids who just don't listen to the noise and realize that if we lose a set, it's not the end of the world, we've been through tougher times, that's a big piece of it."
The #TerritorialCup is heating up in the desert!@SunDevilVB takes set 2! #Pac12VB
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) November 26, 2016
LIVE: https://t.co/YfMNDWtSGW https://t.co/WsU6OLLVmy
The momentum carried into the third set – which ASU led 10-7 early – but it didn't last much longer, as Arizona responded with a 12-5 stretch and pulled out the third by a slim, 25-22 margin.
The Sun Devils, who have struggled with immaturity this season, responded with a strong fourth set, which they led 20-12 and ended up winning, 25-18 to force the final set, which went the Wildcats' way.
"I think they've all come so far," Mussie said regarding her team's early immaturity. "Being able to not let the referees bother you and realize, 'hey, you've got to get back in and refocus.' That's a big sign of the good things to come."
For ASU, three seniors played in their final games as Sun Devils on Saturday afternoon – outside hitters Maya McClendon, Cassidy Pickrell and libero Mia Mazon. All of the seniors from both teams received a rose from Mussie, and each ASU senior wore a crown during warmups in honor of their careers' swan song.
Those @SunDevilVB seniors ➡️ #Pac12VB
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) November 26, 2016
LIVE: https://t.co/YfMNDWtSGW https://t.co/BBdxZWHdzw
"Obviously, I'm not from here, but you know what Arizona State-Arizona means," Mussie said. "Whether it's football, volleyball, chess, checkers, doesn't matter, it's a big deal. So to be able to do this is a very, very special thing and it's a special thing for all the seniors going out."
Related Links
ASU volleyball picks up hard-fought victory over struggling Colorado
ASU volleyball earns long-awaited home victory over California
Reach the reporter at jeff.griffith21@asu.edu or follow @Jeff_Griffith21 on Twitter.
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