Nov. 13, 2003
CORVALLIS, Ore. (www.TheSunDevils.com) -- The Arizona State Sun Devils were swept in straight sets by the Oregon State Beavers on Thursday night in Pac-10 Volleyball action at Gill Coliseum. Game scores were 30-27, 30-16, 30-23 in favor of the Beavers.
ASU had its season-high losing streak extended to six matches, falling to 8-16 overall and 3-12 in Pac-10 play. Oregon State improved to 15-12 overall and 5-10 in conference action. Arizona State defeated Oregon State earlier in the year in a match played at Wells Fargo Arena on the ASU campus.
Playing their first match since All-Pac-10 outside hitter Juliana Escobar was dismissed from the team, the Devils received solid performances from a cast of veteran players. Senior middle blocker Mandy Stephens (Napa, Calif.) continues her assault on the ASU single-season hitting percentage record, notching nine kills on a .381 attack percentage. She is now hitting .385 on the year with three matches remaining, looking to better the .367 mark set by Julia Leddy last year.
Junior outside hitter Natalie Harris (Tempe, Ariz.) rebounded from an elbow injury to record her 19th match with 10 or more kills. Harris led ASU with 10 kills and added seven digs and one block. Senior outside hitter Kim Mehlhorn (Tempe, Ariz.) added nine kills (.259) and sophomore Sarah Watkins (Mishawaka, Ind.) contributed eight kills on a .312 (8-3-16) hitting percentage. Earning her first career start, freshman Nicole Morton (Bonsall, Calif.) had four kills and recorded a career high with 10 digs.
Senior libero Courtney Blocher (Scottsdale, Ariz.) led all players with 18 digs and senior setter Cheryl Anglin (Queen Creek, Ariz.) had 22 assists and nine digs.
The Beavers hit an efficient .311 as a team in the match to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive. Karah Rhoades and Anne Watts-Roberts tied for the team lead with 12 kills apiece. Watts-Roberts scored the Devils with a .407 hitting percentage and added 10 digs.
The Sun Devils complete the road portion of their 2003 schedule tomorrow night (Nov. 13; 7 p.m.) against the Oregon Ducks at historic McArthur Court.
--Sun Devil Volleyball--