Nov. 2, 2012
TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State volleyball (16-10, 5-8 Pac-12) swept sixth-ranked USC (21-4, 9-4 Pac-12) Friday night in three sets 25-21, 26-24, 25-23. The victory is the first time the Sun Devils topped a ranked opponent since 2010. ASU finishes the weekend early on Saturday at 7 p.m. against No. 5 UCLA (17-4, 9-3 Pac-12).
Macey Gardner posted 13 kills while Erica Wilson had 10 of her own in the upset. Stephanie Preach had 19 digs, Allison Palmer had 13 and Nora Tuioti-Mariner recorded eight kills and 11 digs on the night.
Saturday, Nov. 3 | versus No. 5 UCLA | 7 p.m. PT
Radio: Gametracker
Twitter: @SunDevilVB
In the first set, Arizona State trailed by five at 5-10 but came out of a timeout to post five kills to cut the Trojan lead to 10-13. On a 5-3 run the Sun Devils forced USC into a timeout only to tie it 20-20 and then take their first lead at 21-20 after consecutive Trojan miscues. An 8-1 final run allowed ASU to capture the first frame 25-21.
Following the first set, Stephanie Preach's nine digs bumped her to sixth all-time in ASU career records in the category. She went on to finish the night with 19 digs to put her career mark at 1296.
ASU was much quicker in the second set to take a lead, after 4-3 the Sun Devil underclassmen stretched it to 8-3 following kills by Macey Gardner, Whitney Follette and Nora Tuioti-Mariner. Blocks helped ASU in the opening points, tallying three, a stark contrast to the first set when the Devils won without recording one. Another block by Gardner and Alexis Pinson stretched Arizona State to its largest lead of the stanza, 21-12. Despite the Trojans knotting it up at 23-all, the first tie of the set since 3-3, the Sun Devils came out on top 26-24.
Upset of No. 6 USC gives @sundevilvbcoach his 6th over Top25 teams. Let us know your thoughts on the sweep on Twitter! thesundevils.com/sports/w-volle...
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) November 3, 2012
Arizona State kept its momentum rolling in the third, opening the set leading 8-5. After USC evened it at 10-10, a kill by Erica Wilson and an ace by Shannan McCready gave ASU a two-point edge, 12-10. USC took a minimal lead briefly at 18-20, but Arizona State answered each point until going up 24-22 on Gardner and Tuioti-Mariner kills. Holding on for the final two kills ASU swept No. 6 USC with a final set score of 25-23.
Gardner moved herself into 10th in single-season records after notching her 12th and 13th kills in the third set to bring her season tally to 460.
Notes
Stephanie Preach is now sixth all-time in career digs with 1296 after recording 19 in tonight's match against USC.
Macey Gardner put her name in ASU's single-season kill records, ranking 10th with 460 on the year after 13 kills against USC.
After going ahead 2-0 into intermission, ASU is now 8-1 on the year when leading 2-0 to start.
The last time ASU beat a ranked team was Nov. 24, 2010 at No. 2 California, winning 3-2.
Prior to tonight's win, the last time ASU beat USC was Oct. 15, 2010 in a 3-1 win in Tempe. The last time ASU swept USC was Nov. 6, 1993 and this marks just the fourth time ever in program history the Sun Devils have swept USC.
The sweep against USC is ASU's eighth of the season, the most for the program since it had nine in 2007 and the most under head coach Jason Watson.
Against ranked opponents, ASU has grabbed six wins under the direction of Jason Watson including the 3-0 victory against USC tonight. The most in a single-season under Watson was 2010, with three.
Should the win against USC boost ASU into the national rankings, it would be the first time the program has been ranked since Nov. 4, 2002 when it was No. 23 nationally with then-head coach Patti Snyder-Park.
Saturday, Nov. 3 | versus No. 5 UCLA | 7 p.m. PT
Radio: Gametracker
Twitter: @SunDevilVB
About the UCLA Series
In the last meeting, ASU suffered a 3-0 sweep at then-ranked No. 6 UCLA. All-time ASU trails 8-65 to UCLA. The last time ASU beat the Bruins was Oct. 16, 2010 in Tempe. UCLA is on a current five-match win streak.
Weekend Marketing Promotions | Complete information here
Weekend:
Maroon and gold weekend: all fans wearing ASU colors receive $3 admission all weekend.
Saturday:
Jr. Sun Devil Club Night. All Jr. Sun Devils in attendance will get to `Serve with the Sun Devils' following the match. For more information or to register for this event, please call 480-727-7700.