Nov. 4, 2004
TEMPE, Ariz. (www.TheSunDevils.com) -- Arizona State freshman libero Sydney Donahue broke her own freshman record with 30 digs, but it wasn't enough as visiting Oregon State beat the Sun Devils in four games (30-27, 30-27, 28-30, 30-26) Thursday night in Pac-10 Volleyball action at Wells Fargo Arena.
The Beavers avenged an early-season three-game loss to the Sun Devils to improve to 10-11 overall and 4-8 in Pac-10 play. Arizona State lost its season-high fifth straight match to fall to 8-13 overall and 3-9 in league play.
Donahue (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) bettered her previous career-high of 27 digs to tie for 10th in the ASU single-match record books. The 30 digs also tied the rally scoring record set by current assistant coach Jami Coughlin in 2001.
Junior outside hitter Sarah Watkins (Mishawaka, Ind.) led the Sun Devils with her second career 20-kill match and also tallied her fourth double-double this season by adding 13 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Nicole Morton (Bonsall, Calif.) recorded her seventh double-double with 18 kills and 11 digs.
In addition to Donahue's career night, freshman setter Rachel Mittelstaedt (Phoenix, Ariz.) recorded a career-high 15 digs to go along with a match-high 65 assists for her second double-double of the season. Sophomore middle blocker Tierra Burnley (Santa Clarita, Calif.) added 10 kills on a .474 hitting percentage and sophomore outside hitter Nina Reeves (Gilbert, Ariz.) added 11 kills and six digs.
Oregon State senior outside hitter Allison Lawrence recorded the rare 20-20 match with 22 kills and contributed 21 digs in the victory. Freshman libero Nina Baltimore led the Beavers with 28 digs. Amanda Eggert (13), Abby Windell (13) and Kristin Murray (10) also recorded double-digits in kills for the Beavers.
Oregon State narrowly edged the Sun Devils in nearly every statistical category, including hitting percentage (.250-.242), digs (92-89), kills (77-76), assists (71-70) and blocks (9.0-8.0).
The Sun Devils return to action Friday night against Oregon at 7 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena. The Sun Devils will then make their final road trip of the season to the Pacific Northwest to face the Washington State Cougars (Nov. 11) and the top-ranked Washington Huskies (Nov. 12).
--Sun Devil Volleyball--