ASU’s weekend across three sports brought a little bit of everything: a football loss that got away in a hurry, a volleyball split that still showed plenty of bite, and a soccer team that turned Senior Night into a record book rewrite.
The sharpest swing came in College Station, where Arizona State was right there with then-No. 10 Texas A&M before the fourth quarter unraveled.
The Sun Devils trailed just 24-20 entering the final period in front of 107,523 at Kyle Field, but three straight turnovers on three straight drives changed everything. Junior quarterback Cutter Boley threw two pick-sixes, and senior running back Kyson Brown lost a fumble in between them as ASU’s 48-20 loss quickly moved out of reach.
The final score was lopsided, but the yardage told a different story. Texas A&M finished with 255 yards from scrimmage, and head coach Kenny Dillingham said the numbers didn’t capture what the game looked like.
"Stats are for losers," Dillingham said via Speak of the Devils. "Our stats showed that we played well tonight.
They're for losers; that's a great example of it. But it does show that we can be competitive.
It does show that we can hang; it does show we have a good football team."
Senior wide receiver Reed Harris was the bright spot on offense. The Boston College transfer hauled in nine catches for 189 yards and scored twice.
ASU now turns to a historic trip across the pond, meeting Kansas at Wembley Stadium in week three.
Volleyball, meanwhile, spent Sept. 10-12 at Desert Financial Arena for its first home action of the season and came away with a mixed but encouraging weekend. The Sun Devils opened the Snyder-Park Classic with a four-set loss to UC Davis, which marked their first regular-season home defeat since Nov.
17, 2023. They answered on Friday by knocking off No.
24 Oregon, 3-1, then closed the weekend with another four-set win over San Diego.
Senior opposite Noemie Glover and junior outside hitter Una Vajagić kept driving the offense, with both players finishing each match in the tournament with double-digit kills. Freshman setter Elle Mottola and junior middle blocker Antonina Serafinowska also made their presence felt over the final two matches.
Mottola posted 35 assists against Oregon and 34 against San Diego, while Serafinowska added eight blocks and then six. Junior libero Faith Frame led ASU in digs in all three matches, finishing with 13, 10 and 15.
The Sun Devils will head to the SLO Classic on Sept. 17 and 18.
On the other side of the weekend, soccer delivered the loudest statement. Five days after a 1-0 loss to UNC, ASU came home on Senior Night and buried Grambling State, 8-0. The result set program records for goals in a single game, margin of victory and shots in a match with 40.
The night began with a pregame celebration for the team’s eight seniors, and two of them - Emmie Ennis and Peyton Marcisz - scored two goals apiece for the first braces of their careers. Lucy Fazackerley, Sierra Bergen, Ella Kettles and Kierra Blundell also scored in the rout.
After closing non-conference play in record-setting fashion, ASU shifts into Big 12 action. The Sun Devils open league play at home on Sept. 18 against Utah, then head out for a three-game road trip.
In Other News...
Kansas Coach Sees A Real Arizona State Threat In London
Arizona States trip to London is turning into more than just a novelty game, with Kansas already treating the Sun Devils like a genuine early-season test. The two programs are set to meet in the Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium on Sept. 19, and both sides are working through the demands of international travel while getting ready for a matchup that will be shown on FS1.
Kansas coach Lance Leipold addressed Arizona States recent play, its coaching staff and the logistics of the trip during a press conference, and the backdrop only adds to the intrigue. The Sun Devils have enough momentum to draw real respect from the Jayhawks, and Leipold made it clear Kansas will have to be sharp on both sides of the ball if it wants to handle what Arizona State brings to London. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Skattebo Brought Back His Wildest Trademark And Fans Are Torn
Cam Skattebo wasted no time reminding everyone why he has been one of the more entertaining personalities to follow, even as he worked his way back from a severe right ankle dislocation. On Sunday Night Football, the former Arizona State standout scored a touchdown for the New York Giants and punctuated it with the backflip celebration that has become his trademark, a moment he said he had already planned before the game.
The reaction fit the profile of a player whose style has always invited both admiration and concern. Giants head coach John Harbaugh has already talked publicly about Skattebos backflips and agreed to limit them during training camp, and Skattebo later suggested he will probably steer clear of the celebration for the rest of the season. For now, though, the move served as a reminder that even after a serious injury, he is still willing to bring a little chaos to the end zone. [Read more 🡒]