Sept. 28, 2012
LIVE STATS VS STANFORD | RADIO VS STANFORD | TV: Pac-12 Network
, - Led by Macey Gardner's 20 kills, the Arizona State volleyball team swept California 3-0 for the first time since 2000. The Sun Devils took the victory with set scores of 25-17, 25-19 and 25-14.
ASU is now 13-3 and 2-1 in Pac-12 while the Bears drop to 7-6 and 1-2 in conference. The Sun Devils host No. 7 Stanford at 6 p.m. PT on Sunday in Wells Fargo Arena - the match will be on the Pac-12 National Network.
In set one, the Sun Devils started in a groove to go up 6-3 behind a kill then service ace from Whitney Follette. A block-assist from Nora Tuioti-Mariner and Follette fired up the crowd of 883 as received on more kill from Macey Gardner before the Golden Bears called their first timeout at 13-8.
Swinging at a .321 clip, ASU rolled to a 20-14 lead with three timely service aces by that time. The Golden Bears took their second timeout at 22-15, but ASU tallied its final three points soon after to take the set 25-17.
The second set started much closer as the teams traded points until used six-straight points to inch ahead 14-9. The Golden Bears answered by tying it up at 15-all to force ASU into its first timeout of the match. Back-to-back kills from Follette and Alexis Pinson, both from Allison Palmer, preceded calling a timeout with ASU up 22-17. The Sun Devils finished it off 25-19 with three final kills coming from Erica Wilson. Wilson went on to finish the match with 12 kills and one of ASU's five service aces.
Arizona State was 5-0 on the year after leading 2-0 heading into the break. The Sun Devils stretched that record to 6-0 after taking the third set 25-14, which gave ASU its first sweep of Cal since Oct. 28, 2000 and its sixth sweep on the year.
After six ties opened the third frame, ASU gained control on a four-point run with three kills coming from Tuioti-Mariner, 10-6. Gardner started an unmatched 10-3 scoring spree, tallying 10 of her 20 kills on the night in the third set to allow ASU to stretch its lead to 21-13. The Sun Devils finished off the Golden Bears 25-14 to take the match and the set, 3-0.
.@thesundevils hit .440 to sweep #Cal for first time since 2000! Read about the victory here thesundevils.com/sports/w-volle... @asu @pac12 @swpatterson
-- Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) September 29, 2012
Notes:
The series is now tied 28-28 between ASU and Cal, dating back to 1980.
The last time ASU beat Cal was 2010 and the last sweep of Cal was Oct. 28, 2000.
ASU hit a season-best .440 attack percentage. Breakdown by set: 1, .321; 2, .387; 3, .594.
ASU is now 6-0 on the year when leading two sets to none heading into the break.
Whitney Follette tied her match high of eight kills, block solos (1), block assists (4) and bested her records in attack percentage (.727), points (13.0) and total blocks (5).
About the Stanford Series
Stanford leads this series 59-5. Currently ranked seventh nationally, Stanford took both games in 2011 with a 3-1 win over ASU on Oct. 22 and a sweep on Sept. 30. The last time ASU beat the Cardinal was Sept. 30, 2000 with a 3-1 win.
Marketing Promotions
Sunday vs. Stanford: High School Night - those who have preregistered through the marketing department will be granted free admission at the West Entrance with their photo ID. Gates will open at 4:30 p.m. in Wells Fargo Arena.