Following the Arizona State Sun Devils' victory over Grand Canyon University on Sept. 20, head coach JJ Van Niel followed his team into the tunnel with a smile on his face.
"Our team came out pretty hot right out of the gates, and I think they fed off that and we executed," Van Niel said after the game. "It's probably the best execution we have had from start to finish this season."
That victory, coupled with a similar outcome on Sept. 21 against Milwaukee, completed the Sun Devils' non-conference schedule. The non-conference portion ended with three straight wins for ASU as it hosted the Sun Devil Classic and took down Pepperdine, then the aforementioned GCU and Milwaukee.
That pushed the Sun Devils' overall record in non-conference play to an impressive 9-2. This includes a 3-1 win over Penn State when they were ranked No. 2 in the country.
READ MORE: ASU shocks volleyball world, defeats defending national champions
ASU's two losses came at the hands of No. 9 Pittsburgh and then No. 2 Texas, but Van Niel argued that those losses have a silver lining.
"Whenever you lose, you get stuff exposed," Van Niel said. "That's always good to have. When you win, there is a lot of stuff that gets hidden."
After going undefeated this weekend, Van Niel said there's still some cleaning up to do, but he is happy with where his team is at going into conference play.
Injuries have played a big part in some of the different lineups the Sun Devils have tried so far this season. Preventing those can play a big part in the success that ASU could have in conference play.
"We have obviously had some unfortunate injuries and lineup changes in almost every single match," senior outside hitter Bailey Miller said after the game. "I think everyone comes into the gym ready to work."
Luckily for Van Niel and his team, the Sun Devils don't suit up again until Sept. 26.
"It would still be nice to be fully healthy," Van Niel said. "We are getting there. But I think the flip side of that is the team is getting used to dealing with adversity."
Adversity is something that will certainly strike ASU again over the course of a long stretch of Big 12 opponents. Between now and then, the Sun Devils will have to rest and practice before a grueling conference schedule.
"I think coming out with that same intensity, starting right from the beginning, from the get-go," junior middle blocker Ella Lomigora said. "When we step on that court, we're ready to play. We are ready to play hard at the first set."
Not only does Van Niel think his team can make improvements before Big 12 games, but his players repeated that sentiment.
"Executing in (transition), that's a big focus that we've been having," Lomigora said after the game. "Having everybody up, and when you pass the ball you are getting on your route. I think that once we do that, we are going to allow everybody to have more time, a little less stress."
Though the nonconference results were an overall success, the Sun Devils will actually measure their success based on the outcomes of conference games. No. 18 Kansas is the first step.
"We are really dialed in on Kansas," Miller said. "They are usually up there with the teams that are going to be in (the race for) the championship."
Edited by Alan Deutschendorf, Senna James and Pippa Fung.
Reach the reporter at mseal6@asu.edu and follow @masonseal23 on X.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on X.
Mason Seal is a reporter in the sports department. He provides intel and paints stories about many different sports for The State Press. He is in his third semester at The State Press.
