Four players from Wisconsin's volleyball team entered the transfer portal after the Badgers reached the 2025 Final Four. One departure was significant enough for fans to take personal offense. Enough for Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield to desperately attempt to keep her.
Junior outside hitter Una Vajagić.
When she chose ASU, the loss hurt the program enough to display his frustrations.
"How that turned sideways certainly feels like we were sabotaged," Sheffield told The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
She endured the tough decision of leaving. After entering the transfer portal, Vajagić, from Novi Sad, Serbia, went from beloved to villain.
She's shielded from all that now in Tempe, existing in the bubble of the Sun Devils' camaraderie. Vajagić's embrace of the new community she's found at ASU shows that a sense of belonging ranks high on her list of priorities.
With seven international Sun Devils, compared to three at Wisconsin, Vajagić has more teammates who understand her journey. She also draws inspiration from playing with senior outside hitter Noemie Glover, one of the nation's best hitters. Adding Vajagić, the Sun Devils obtain a potent and versatile starting seven.
"We had recruited her when she was coming over originally," coach JJ Van Niel said. "So I had a little bit of familiarity with her. She's a good all-around volleyball player, which is exactly what we needed."
She finds comfort, even safety, in an environment where so many players understand her journey.
The Sun Devils feature five players from Europe, three of which are from Slavic countries, like Vajagić. They play alongside two other internationals, one from Canada and another from Brazil.
"From the first day that I came, I felt good because there are also a lot of girls like me — internationals — and that it was easy to adjust with them and to become friends even more," Vajagić said.
READ MORE: Wave of international talent boosts Sun Devils to hot start
On-court chemistry is just as valuable.
Glover and Vajagić bring undeniable synergy at both ends of the net. From the left side, Vajagić operates with precision. From the right side, Glover flexes explosiveness.
They break down the defense one hit at a time. A manifestation of Van Niel's own scheme.
"Una is very, very competitive," Van Niel said. "Just like Noemi. But it's so nice to have two arms out there for sure."
Glover's presence elevates Vajagić's level. But what Glover gives, Vajagić returns. Greatness is premium fuel.
"For us, it's fun to see what can we do for each other. How can somebody else next to me play better because I play next to that person, too," Vajagić said.
Glover led the Sun Devils with 423 kills and a .363 hitting percentage in 2025. Second on the team was Bailey Miller, who has since graduated. This season, Vajagić fills that void.
A second potent hitter keeps a defense from being comfortably set. Vajagić hits deep, making it hard for passers to creep up to the midline. Glover hits straight down — and sometimes to the right side, screwing up the opposing rotation.
"We balanced each other out really well," Glover said. "So it's been nice because she's also just super technical. She hits the right shots at the right times. So it's really cool to have someone that can put the ball away and also be a really good passing effort for us."
After getting bounced from the tournament before the quarterfinals each of the last three seasons, the Sun Devils are hanging on to versatility and the depth of their lineup to hold up against the best teams.
ASU enters the Big 12 conference slate with four wins over ranked teams and has lost just two sets in those wins. The Sun Devils opened the season on Aug. 22 with a 3-1 win over then-No. 2 Texas. ASU followed that by beating No. 14 Minnesota in the opener of the State Farm Volleyball Showcase. In the second game of the showcase, No. 20 USC swept the Sun Devils. Since then, ASU has beaten No. 23 Oregon and No. 8 Stanford.
"My expectations are always the highest," Vajagić said. "I want to see us play our high quality. It's fighting all the time and showing what are we working (for) this whole time."
READ MORE: Tough nonconference opponents help prep ASU volleyball for remainder of season
She's already been where ASU is trying to get. That's what made her leaving Wisconsin so controversial.
The Badgers suffered a heartbreaking five-set loss to Kentucky in the national semifinal last December. Days later, the Wisconsin head coach said he met with players to discuss next steps for returners and those planning to transfer.
That's when Sheffield learned Vajagić wanted out of Wisconsin.
"It was emotional," Sheffield told ESPN Madison. "Because of someone who seemed to be such a perfect fit and having so much fun and really on her way. She was thriving; she was having a blast. And then all of a sudden, within 48 hours, (she's) just almost a totally different human. I had a really tough time getting my head wrapped around that."
Vajagić declined to comment as the team's media relations official shut down any questions about Wisconsin.
Sheffield's public comments about his former player fed the animosity towards Vajagić. Social media filled with comments, many teeming with vitriol. Junior middle blocker Antonina Serafinowska, Aniya Warren and Trinity Shadd-Ceres all left Wisconsin. Serafinowska also transferred to ASU.
But Vajagić became enemy No. 1.
She would need a refuge. A place to protect her. A new home. ASU's been exactly what she needed to bring the attention back to the court and her game.
"Just finding something that you need to work every day," Vajagić said. "You are never satisfied with where you are. You need always to work on stuff and make connections with your teammates. Because, in the end, I don't think the best quality team wins. I think the team that has best connection and best trust between teammates — that is fighting the best is going to win."
Edited by Alex Swift, Alan Deutschendorf III and Senna James.
Reach the reporter at cfleduc@asu.edu.
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Camille LeDuc is a part-time sports reporter at The State Press. She has worked previously with The Express Newspaper at Las Positas College. This is her first semester with The State Press.
