Following a loss in the Sweet Sixteen in 2025, ASU volleyball had adjustments to make in order to reach the upper echelon of college volleyball. A 28-4 record and second straight Big 12 title last year didn't satiate the team's thirst heading into 2026.
One of the ways coach JJ Van Niel plans on preparing his team for a deep run is the level of opponents in nonconference play. In its first three games, ASU played three ranked opponents, going 2-1.
"We wanted to get into some big environments early; play some tough matches early," Van Niel said. "Let's get used to a big-pressure environment as quick as possible."
The Sun Devils opened the season by taking down No. 2 Texas and No. 14 Minnesota, losing just one set total in those matches. However, No. 20 USC swept the Sun Devils to end the first week of the season.
"It's really fun to play against tough opponents, and it's hard," junior outside hitter Una Vajagić said. "It's pushing us to be better and to practice better."
All three of those opponents won at least one round in the NCAA Tournament last year and came into this season with high expectations.
"I wanted to play in big matches early on," Van Niel said. "Our conference is very tough this year, and we have to come out and be ready to play night in and night out."
Following a brutal slate in the first week, the Sun Devils participated in the Colgate Volleyball Classic that included Princeton, a member of the 2025 NCAA tournament, Colgate and Villanova.
ASU dominated the tournament without dropping a set against the Tigers, Raiders and Wildcats.
Colgate finished the 2025 season 18-10 overall and 13-3 in conference play. Meanwhile, Villanova finished last year 20-8 overall and 11-5 against the Big East. The depth of the Sun Devils' schedule is amongst the best in the country.
"We put together a really tough schedule on purpose," Van Niel said. "We picked strong mid-majors to try to get that experience playing tough competition."
During the Sun Devils' first tournament at home, ASU challenged UC Davis, No. 24 Oregon and San Diego. The Sun Devils dropped the first game against the Aggies before taking down the Ducks and Toreros.
UC Davis won 21 games last year and nearly made the tournament before falling in the Big West championship. Oregon was undefeated going into the contest and riding a wave of momentum after moving up in the rankings.
San Diego posed a minimal threat to the Sun Devils with a 2-3 record entering the Snyder-Park Classic. The Toreros finished 2025 with a 25-5 record and 18-0 in the WCC, falling in a close match in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
All of that to say the Sun Devils' challenging docket is notably harder than last year. In 2025, ASU played No. 2 Penn State and No. 9 Pittsburgh during the opening weekend, and then No. 2 Texas in September.
However, many of the mid-major contests scheduled in 2025 —Northern Iowa, Florida Gulf Coast, Incarnate Word and Milwaukee — were not the same caliber as Villanova, Princeton or UC Davis in 2026.
Looking ahead, the schedule doesn't get any easier. As ASU heads to California to participate in the SLO Classic, the Sun Devils will take on No. 8 Stanford and Cal Poly. Both schools made the Sweet Sixteen last year and have played well so far in 2026.
"Get them all used to (big matches), especially since we have some freshmen," Van Niel said. "Get them used to what it means to play in a bigger environment in front of big crowds."
With the SLO Classic being the final nonconference game, the Sun Devils might find reprieve in the Big 12 schedule for the rest of the year.
"Setting the tone for conference (play) is our next challenge ahead," senior opposite hitter Noemie Glover said. "How can we set a tempo, set our standard in this arena and then build off of that."
Edited by Char O'Neil, Alan Deutschendorf III and Sophia Keeling.
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 sports reporter at The State Press. This is his fifth semester working with The State Press and is in his junior year.
