ASU Volleyball: GCU transfer Claire Kovensky making a big impact

ASU volleyball has improved tremendously compared to last year. A key factor to the growth has been the new recruits and transfers, including sophomore outside hitter Claire Kovensky.

Kovensky came into this season with many accolades while playing at Grand Canyon University. She became the WAC Freshman of the year as she finished the season with 11 double-doubles and led the Lopes with 305 kills (3.28 kills per set) and 266 digs (2.86 digs per set).

At first, it was tough for Kovensky to adapt to a new team.

“It’s always a bit awkward to build a relationship through the team so quickly, especially since I was last minute,” she said.

However, Kovensky has been a great help to this team and meshed well with her teammates early on.

“Everyone is very open and very kind so it made it extremely easy,” she added. “It worked out and I think I knew that when I was on my visit.”

This has allowed team chemistry to build easily, and both sides of the ball have benefited.

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Although Kovensky has been competing with some of ASU’s talented outside hitters, including junior Ivana Jeremic and senior transfer Alyse Ford, she is up for the challenge.

“It was definitely challenging to realize that you got to get better to see the court,” she said. “I knew that there was going to be a lot of competition, but that is what makes you better as a player and I think that we all push each other in order to get better.”

Kovensky has finished in the top three for kills in 10 of the 13 wins the Sun Devils have this year. Currently, she is third on the team in kills and kills per set.

She is also a great team player who helps her team run smoothly with her defensive and passing skills.

“She just goes hard no matter what,” said head coach Sanja Tomasevic. “Whatever we ask her to do, she will go hard.”

Kovensky is only a sophomore on a young ASU volleyball team and is looking to cause havoc the next couple years as well.

“I’m really excited to work with her because she learns fast, she’s open to changes and she will be pretty consistent for us,” Tomasevic said. “She does have great technique and a good base in her learning.”

The team has improved after finishing 0-20 last year in Pac-12 due to the play of Kovensky and other young stars. With four matches to go, Kovensky has high hopes for the program’s future.

“I think it helps a lot when you have a lot of young players because you will play together for a while and it will end up paying off toward the end,” she said. “I think the fact that we are all young and play together – I think it will benefit us to the future too.”

Next. ASU Volleyball: Sun Devils struggle in loss to Colorado. dark

Kovensky will hope the Sun Devils finish off the season strong as they are now prepare for their final matches of the season. First serve from Friday’s match against No. 25 UCLA will come at 7 p.m.

All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand by Devils in Detail unless otherwise noted.