Aug. 23, 2003
TEMPE, Ariz. (www.TheSunDevils.com) - The gold edged the maroon 3-2 in a controlled scrimmage Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena as Brad Saindon made his head coaching debut for the Arizona State Volleyball program.
Saindon, who replaces 14-year head coach Patti Snyder-Park, spent the last six years coaching at the international level with USA Men's Volleyball and the Australian Women's National Team.
The controlled scrimmage format allowed players to play on both teams and simulate mock rotations. Assistant coaches Terri Cox (1995-98) and Jami Coughlin (1998-2001) also played in the match to offset injuries to middle blocker Jodi Proctor (St. Johns, Ariz.) and outside hitter Kim Mehlhorn (Tempe, Ariz.). Coughlin and Cox join with Saindon to form an all-ASU alumni coaching staff.
Harris (Tempe, Ariz.) led all players with 18 kills and 14 digs while playing for both the maroon and gold squads. 2002 All-Pac-10 outside hitter Juliana Escobar tallied 17 kills and added five total blocks. Senior setter Cheryl Anglin (Queen Creek, Ariz.) led all players with 34 assists, and junior college transfer Giovana Melo dished out 23 assists in her ASU debut.
The Sun Devils are coming off 15-12 season in 2002 in which they advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the last four years. Picked to finish seventh in the highly competitive Pac-10 this year, Saindon's squad will officially open the 2003 campaign next Friday (Aug. 29) with a 7 p.m. match against Utah. The Sun Devils will host Ohio, San Diego and the Utes in the annual Sun Devil Volleyball Classic to be held Aug. 29-30 at Wells Fargo Arena.
-- www.TheSunDevils.com -