Oct. 14, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Arizona State volleyball falls to 4-14 overall and 0-9 in Pac-12 action after dropping a 3-0 decision to Utah on Friday night. With set scores of 25-23, 25-15, 25-20 Utah improves to 8-11 on the year and 3-7 in conference play.
Nora Tuioti-Mariner and Danica Mendivil paced the Sun Devils offensively with eight kills apiece on the night - but a slow offense that posted a .093 attack percentage forced ASU to play from behind resulting in the straight-set sweep.
In set one, A-State worked from a 0-2 start to force ties at 9, 10 and 11-all before Utah went on a five-point run to go up 19-14. A quick ASU timeout jumpstarted the Devil offense to make it a one-point game at 21-20 forcing the Utes to call a TO of their own. Despite the comeback, ASU ran out of time in the frame as Utah took the set 25-23.
The second set proved more difficult for the maroon and gold when it faced Utah's 11 kills and five blocks en route to falling 25-15. Shannan McCready threw down one ace and nine assists in the frame - finishing the night with 30 assists, a best for both clubs.
In the final frame, the Sun Devils improved for its best attack percentage of the contest but could not overcome a five-point cushion Utah built in the early goings at 10-5. Tuioti-Mariner chalked up five kills along the way in the 25-20 third-set loss.
Arizona State returns Saturday for a 6 p.m. PT/7 p.m. MT match at Colorado.