Nov. 10, 2012
EUGENE, Ore. - Arizona State volleyball split its weekend in the state of Oregon after dropping a five-setter to the Ducks 3-2 on Friday. The Sun Devils are now 17-12 overall and 6-10 in the Pac-12 while Oregon improves to 21-3 and 12-3 in conference.
The loss came in set scores of 18-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-17, 13-15. Three Sun Devils reached double-digit kills with Macey Gardner tallying 19, Erica Wilson 17, Whitney Follette tying her personal match high of 11 kills. Allison Palmer's 61 assists is a match high for the freshman.
After Oregon stormed to a 1-8 lead over ASU in the first set, a kill from Erica Wilson stopped the Duck streak as the Sun Devils closed the spread to 9-14. Oregon was quick to reach 20 points, 13-20 and shut down ASU's three-point spurt at the end to cap the set 18-25.
Both teams jockeyed for the advantage in the second set and after four ties and four-straight points by Arizona State, the Sun Devils held an 11-8 edge. Oregon proceeded to tie it at 14-all but momentum stayed with the Devils who worked their way to a 21-18 lead. Behind kills by Whitney Follette and Wilson, ASU tied it at 1-1 by taking the frame 25-23.
Working from behind in the third, 8-16, ASU outscored Oregon 4-2 to come within reach at 14-19 and frustrated UO into a timeout soon after at 18-21. Coming out of the timeout, ASU recorded three kills from Gardner and Follette, but Oregon's previous lead allowed the Ducks to finish the set 21-25.
In the fourth, ASU levied itself to a 7-3 lead and held on by swinging .357 through the 12-8 point. Though Oregon extended rallies, Arizona State held strong and used its presence at the net to keep control, 16-12. Upon the Sun Devils reaching a 21-15 lead, UO called its second timeout but it was too little help as ASU took this frame handedly 25-17 to force a fifth set.
In the deciding set, Arizona State played with power - slamming down kills to go up 5-3. With the match tied at 6, 7 and then 8-all, a timely block assist from Alexis Pinson and Nora Tuioti-Mariner put the lead back for ASU. Behind at 9-10, the Sun Devils called a timeout and regrouped with another block from Pinson and Tuioti-Mariner to make it 10-10. Following ties to the 12-point mark, Oregon inched ahead in the final three plays to come out on top 13-15.
Still a lot of good things going on with our team. Split in Oregon and return home to host Colorado and Utah next wk thesundevils.com/sports/w-volle...
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) November 10, 2012
Notes
Erica Wilson is 13th in career kills with 1,057.
Gardner continues to rewrite the freshman season kill record, the count is now at 502.
Gardner's season kill record of 502 ranks fourth in single-season records. Needs just 21 more kills to tie for third with 523.
Allison Palmer now ranks eighth for single-season assists with 1244. Against the Beavers she had 39 and adding in 61 against Oregon on Friday - her personal match high.
Stephanie Preach is now eighth in single-season digs with 508. She needs 30 digs to tie for seventh.
Prior to the weekend, Stephanie Preach ranked seventh at ASU all-time in digs with 1,312. With her 12 against the Beavers and 25 against Oregon, she is 16 shy of tying for sixth (has 1349).
Up Next:
ASU hosts Utah on Friday at 7 p.m. MT and on Sunday at 6 p.m. MT the Colorado Buffalo.
Weekend Promotions:
Friday vs. Utah:
Food Drive - All fans who bring a canned food item to the match will receive $3 admission. All food will be donated to Tempe Community Action to benefit those in need throughout the holiday season.
Sunday vs. Colorado:
Washington State football ticket stub - Fans with Washington State football ticket stubs from the Sun Devil football game on Saturday will receive $3 admission.
Food Drive - All fans who bring a canned food item to the match will receive $3 admission. All food will be donated to Tempe Community Action to benefit those in need throughout the holiday season.