As No. 12 ASU embarks on the first stretch of Big 12 competition, an older, experienced core has made up the vast majority of the Sun Devils' production. The likes of junior outside hitter Una Vajagić, graduate outside hitter Aniya Clinton, senior opposite Noemie Glover and junior libero Faith Frame have all played primary roles in the Sun Devils' 10-3 start.
However, a pair of freshmen have played a key part in the success of the back-to-back Big 12 champs. Setter Elle Mottola and outside hitter Grace Martin have been impactful in their own ways as the calendar flips to October.
Coach JJ Van Niel noticed the influence both players had on the court during their time in high school. Mottola hails from Orlando, Florida, and Martin from Overland Park, Kansas.
"Both of them, they were playing on teams that were just finding ways to win," Van Niel said. "We felt like (they) were one of the reasons why."
In her first-ever NCAA contest, Mottola helped the Sun Devils take down then-No. 2 Texas and earned the AVCA MVP of the Match, recording 31 sets, seven digs, four blocks and four kills.
"She's done a really good job figuring out how to run our offense," Van Niel said. "She's done a really nice job as a blocker and defender, just an all-around volleyball player."
Mottola continued her dominant play in a win over then-No. 14 Minnesota, notching her first double-double, with 42 sets and 10 digs. She hit her groove in mid-September, posting 142 assists in a four-game stretch, marking 35.5 per game.
"One of the biggest reasons (I came to ASU) was that I was able to come in and make an immediate impact," Mottola said. "I saw that they lost two setters. I was really excited to be able to fight for the starting spot; each day in practice it's a fight."
The recent success of the Sun Devils in developing setters like Sydney Henry and Argentina Ung also played a factor in Mottola coming to the desert.
"Ultimately, the coaching staff was the biggest (factor) swaying my decision," Mottola said. "Because of the work they have done the past three years here and all the great setters they produced."
Henry, now a graduate assistant, specifically has stepped in as a mentor for the Floridian.
"She set here last year, and she's always helpful because she was in my position last year," Mottola said. "During practices and games, she reminds me to take a deep breath and little tips and tricks."
Martin has been a beneficiary of Mottola's monstrous set totals. The hitter has made her presence felt, even in a crowded ASU hitting room.
"Grace has been really competitive since she walked into the gym," Van Niel said. "It's been great; we felt like (we) needed to give her a shot against Oregon, and she came in and had an unbelievable match… she got her shot and took it."
In the match against Oregon, Martin shined with 12 kills and a .313 hitting percentage. While Martin produced four kills against Colgate and five against San Diego, her playing time hasn't been fully consistent.
"For Grace, (it's about) learning how to play at a more physical level," Van Niel said. "College volleyball is more physical, and it's a lot different than what you deal with in club, so she's had to find that adjustment and learn how to hit against bigger blockers, faster defenders."
However, the depth of the offensive firepower the Sun Devils possess could be part of the reason Martin hasn't seen the floor as much in 2026.
"I really loved the culture and coaching staff," Martin said. "I'm undersized being an outside, and when I went in they had undersized outsides, and they were one of the top scorers in the conference. Knowing that they have confidence in small outsides and they believe in that, that was huge for me."
The future remains bright for Martin as she continues to learn from the core of seasoned veterans ASU has on the roster.
"(Glover) is amazing to look up to but also (Frame) being there," Martin said. "We're both from the Midwest, so we just bonded over that immediately. They're both awesome and amazing role models."
The Kansas native will have a homecoming on Oct. 18 when the Sun Devils travel to face the Jayhawks in a Big 12 showdown.
For now, both Mottola and Martin have settled into their respective roles on a team with its eyes set on a third straight Big 12 title and a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
Looking ahead, both Martin and Mottola could play even bigger roles on ASU teams in the coming years.
"They've done a nice job of being integrated and coming in and learning how we do things," Van Niel said. "Being part of the culture, and taking some ownership and pride in that."
Edited by Alex Swift, Alan Deutschendorf III and Senna James.
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.
