One of the toughest non-conference schedules has mercifully come to an end for ASU volleyball. A month that saw the Sun Devils play the 19th hardest schedule in the country has passed with a 4-1 record against ranked teams.
Although this stretch of top-competition has passed, a challenge remains for the Sun Devils with Big 12 play on the horizon.
The first week of the season alone found ASU battling three ranked opponents in No. 2 Texas, No. 14 Minnesota and No. 20 USC. The Sun Devils survived winning the first two contests before dropping the third.
"I scheduled pretty tough for preseason to try to get us comfortable in uncomfortable environments like big crowds," coach JJ Van Niel said. "I hope it prepared us."
The knowledge of playing in one of the toughest conferences in college volleyball means he wanted to have his team prepared come Big 12 time.
"I think a lot of people probably look at us as the team to beat," junior libero Faith Frame said. "We're probably going to get everyone's best match, which is exciting and it'll really prepare us for the tournament."
Now the Sun Devils will turn their sights to the Big 12 portion of the schedule; a two-month journey through a conference that ASU has dominated the last two seasons.
The back-to-back Big 12 champs enter conference play with a target on their backs, having a combined 34-2 record over inter-conference foes.
"I hope that we can play good volleyball," senior opposite Noemie Glover said. "And show why we have that ranking and why we're here to stay."
Kansas has posed the biggest threat to the Sun Devils' perch atop the conference the last two seasons. The Jayhawks have been 28-8 in the Big 12 and have finished second each of the last two years. They will be looking to break the chokehold ASU has had on the conference.
"(I'm excited for Arizona)because of the rivalry, and then there's a lot of great teams this year," Frame said. "Kansas is a really good one, TCU and Colorado are good again. So there's a lot of big dogs in the Big 12, which is exciting and there will be a lot of good games."
After two road contests facing Big 12 opposition, the Sun Devils come home to defend the friendly confines of Desert Financial Arena. This homestand includes four games facing some of the Big 12's best squads to offer coming out of 2025 — Iowa State, Colorado, TCU and Arizona.
"It's easy to pull away and pull your focus to different areas," Glover said. "But if we can just get back to the point, get back to what we're strong at, we're gonna be able to get some success there."
ASU expects to sit atop the Big 12 yet again, as the hierarchy remains unchallenged without the likes of Texas and Nebraska threatening their reign. The Sun Devils have a chance to win the Big 12 in all three of the years since entering the conference.
Although there are areas for improvement, the Sun Devils have shown their resiliency come conference time, demonstrating that it's when they put their best product on the floor that they see success.
"I hope it (puts a target on our back)," Glover said. "I want teams to play their best volleyball against us, and I want us to be tested and challenged."
Edited by Char O'Neil, Emilio Alvarado and Sophia Keeling.
Reach the reporter at mseal6@asu.edu and follow @masonseal23 on X.
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Mason Seal is a sports reporter at The State Press. This is his fifth semester working with The State Press and is in his junior year.
