Nov. 22, 2008
TEMPE, Ariz. – Two rallies fell in favor of the ninth-ranked Oregon Ducks Saturday night as UO was able to top the ASU Volleyball team in a 25-22, 25-13 and 25-23 win to close out ASU’s 2008 home slate. The Sun Devils are now 13-16 overall and 4-12 in the Pac-10 as Oregon improves to 22-7 overall and 10-6 in conference play.
Both ASU and Oregon started out neck-and-neck in the first set as they pulled five tie scores through the set with ASU pulling ahead 20-15 and looking to take the first game from the Ducks. UO had other ideas though as they went on a 5-to-1 scoring rally on ASU to pull it even at 21 apiece. A time out wasn’t enough to reel the Sun Devils back in order as they saw their lead slip from their grip to a 25-22 Duck win.
The second set was no question however as Oregon came out storming with a vicious .467 attack percentage with 19 kills and three blocks which ASU couldn’t match as they collected only six kills in the set to let the Ducks take a 2-0 lead into the break with a 25-13 win.
The Sun Devils decided to make a match of in the third and not go quietly as they turned around to force 13 tie scores and five lead changes in the third set, holding on to the lead through a good portion of it. While both teams notched eight attack errors, the Ducks in the end were able to edge ASU with 16 kills to ASU’s 12 as they snaked away with another win from under the Sun Devils with a 25-23 win to seal the match.
“We had some chances and we talked about putting ourselves in a position to capitalize on them, which we came up short on. We’re getting better, we’re making progress, but now we’re going to try now to ensure that we end the season better than we started.” stated Head Coach Jason Watson post match.
The Sun Devils will look to wrap their 2008 season strong next weekend as they travel to the Pacific Northwest again to take on the Washington State Cougars on Friday, November 28 and Washington Huskies Saturday, November 29 in Pullman and Seattle Washington.