Nov. 3, 2001
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona junior outside hitter Lisa Rutledge had 22 kills and recorded a career-high 25 digs to help lead the fourth-ranked Wildcats to a 3-1 victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils in Pac-10 volleyball action Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena.
The 30-28, 30-25, 33-35, 32-30 victory moves Arizona to 16-3, 11-3 Pac-10 on the year. They have now won eight consecutive matches and has won nine of the last 10 matches against the Sun Devil in the head-to-head series. ASU falls to 7-13 on the year and 2-10 in Pac-10 play. The Devils have now lost 10 of their last 11 conference matches.
The Sun Devils were led by the career-high tying 19 kills from sophomore outside hitter Kim Mehlhorn (Tempe). Notching her ninth consecutive match with double-digits in kills, the sophomore from Chandler's Valley Christian High School added 16 digs to pick up her 10th double-double of the year. Senior Jami Coughlin (Glendale), playing in her eighth and final match vs. the Wildcats, finished with 12 kills and tied a career high with 26 digs.
Sophomore defensive specialist Courtney Blocher (Scottsdale) set a career high with 26 digs and freshman opposite hitter Alicia Akporiaye (Tucson) notched a career-high with 13 kills and added a team-best five total blocks. Sophomore middle blocker Jodi Smith (St. Johns) picked up her fifth match this year with double-digits in kills with 10 and added four total blocks.
Picking up her fifth double-double of the year, Rutledge led four Wildcats with double-digits in kills, with Stefani Saragosa (11 kills), Shannon Torregrosa (16 kills) and Jill Talbot (16 kills) also contributing solid performances. Senior setter and 2000 Pac-10 Player of the Year Dana Burkholder recorded a match-best 65 assists and added 18 digs.
The Sun Devils return to action next weekend with a pair of Pac-10 matches at Washington State (Nov. 9, 7 p.m.) and at Washington (Nov. 10, 7 p.m.).
--Sun Devil Volleyball--