Nov. 6, 2010
TEMPE, Ariz. – Stellar outings from Malia Marquardt weren’t enough Friday as the Sun Devil Volleyball team fell in a 3-2 heartbreaker to the No. 20 Oregon Ducks. After dropping down 0-2 with UO taking the first two sets 25-20, 25-12 the Sun Devils stormed back to take the next two 25-21 and 25-16 before falling in a gritty fifth set 15-12. The loss drops ASU to 11-14 overall and 5-7 in Pac-10 play while Oregon improves to 17-8 on the year and 5-8 in conference play.
Oregon came out strong in the first set to hit a .364 clip against the Sun Devils with Katherine Fischer leading the Ducks with six kills and a .385 attack percentage with Alaina Bergsma following right behind with five kills as well. ASU’s defense tried to stymie the attack with two blocks, but the effort wasn’t enough as UO rolled off with a 25-20 win.
The Sun Devils couldn’t seem to put it together in the second set though as they looked off-sync offensively, only posting a .077 attack percentage with Oregon collecting two blocks and pushing a .324 percentage across the boards. Heather Myers exploded in the set for seven kills for a .500 attack percentage as the Ducks took a 25-12 win to head comfortably into the break with a 2-0 lead.
ASU had other plans for the Ducks in the third set though as UO still put up a .364 attack percentage, but it was no match for ASU’s .469 with Malia Marquardt following behind her with a .667 average for four kills. Jenny Teslevich jumped into the fray as well with four huge digs to help the effort as ASU took a 25-21 win to push four onto the Ducks.
Oregon had no answer for ASU’s assault in the fourth set as well as UO barely put together a .067 attack percentage while ASU rallied to post a .464 average and hit their swing with Pinson and Marquardt stepping up again to lead the Maroon and Gold, combining for eight of ASU’s 15 kills. The Sun Devil D was untouchable too as they blocked five of the Oregon attempts as ASU cruised to a 25-16 win and send it to five.
Oregon came out fast in the final set, taking the first three points from ASU before the Sun Devils recouped to make a set of it. While it looked as though ASU could step up, tying it at 11 apiece in the set, the Ducks buckled down to exploit some of the Sun Devils’ weaknesses and close out with a 15-12 win.
The Sun Devils hit the road next weekend as they set to face the L.A. schools, taking on UCLA and USC next Friday and Saturday.