During the Wildcats’ recent home stretch, senior outside hitter Destiny Ndam‑Simpson said assistant coach Ryan Ammerman is helping her regain confidence. The need for confidence has been a recurring theme for the team, and it was evident in Sunday’s 3‑0 (25‑16, 25‑22, 25‑16) loss to No. 8 Arizona State.
Coach Stubbs stresses belief in the face of defeat
Head coach Rita Stubbs explained, “We had a long conversation about confidence, and we continue to have that conversation. When you don’t win, it’s hard to believe you can get it done. If the opponent scores early, we hear the things we’ve talked about, but we’re still not doing it. It’s a maturity thing—you have to be ready to score every single time, regardless of the situation.” She added that the goal is to teach players to walk onto the court and think, “Okay, I got this.”
Individual standouts amid team struggles
Opposite hitter Kennedy Osunsanmi showed the confidence the staff hopes to spread. She ranks third on the team with 2.15 kills per set and leads regular attackers with a .261 hitting percentage. Osunsanmi said, “I stay confident by leaning on my team. Everyone’s positive, and I remember the work I’ve put in and trust my skills.” In the match, she posted seven kills, 7.5 points, a .467 hitting percentage and one block assist.
Despite Osunsanmi’s effort, the Wildcats’ leading scorer was Ndam‑Simpson with eight kills, three total blocks (two solo) and a team‑high 10.5 points, plus nine digs.
Stat line highlights the gap
Arizona’s only statistical advantage came in blocks, out‑blocking the Sun Devils 10‑6. Overall, ASU tallied 56 kills to Arizona’s 24 and hit .273 as a team versus Arizona’s .103. The Sun Devils also recorded 65 digs compared with the Wildcats’ 42.
ASU built a decisive 12‑1 run early in the first set, taking a 17‑7 lead. The Wildcats managed only a single point during that stretch, coming from a service error by the Sun Devils. Arizona later mounted a 6‑1 run to narrow the gap, but it was insufficient.
Close moments and missed opportunities
In the second set, Arizona fell behind 5‑0 and later trailed 20‑12. After a timeout called by Stubbs, the Wildcats rallied with five straight points, cutting the lead to 21‑17. A subsequent 4‑1 run brought the score to 23‑21 before ASU took another timeout. The Sun Devils ultimately secured the set, taking a 2‑0 lead in the match.
The third set followed a similar pattern. Arizona won the opening point, but ASU responded with four straight points. The Wildcats briefly narrowed the margin to two or three points, yet the Sun Devils repeatedly extended the lead, finishing the set 16‑13 and sealing the match.
Looking ahead
The Wildcats travel to Utah for their next two matches, facing No. 7 BYU and an unranked Utah team that defeated them just over ten days ago. Coach Stubbs emphasized that the loss is taking a toll on the players’ confidence and that rebuilding belief is essential for future competitiveness.
“It’s an issue with a lot of women,” Stubbs said. “Being confident in who you are matters. When you’re confident, people may think you’re mean, but I’m just confident in what I’m doing. That’s the world we live in.”
Original reporting: Arizona Desert Swarm (Tucson Sports) — read the source article.
