By Craig Morgan, thesundevils.com Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Jason Watson's elation didn't last long after securing an early commitment from outside hitter Macey Gardner. While Gardner was finishing up her senior season at Gilbert High School in 2011-12, the Sun Devils volleyball coach was slogging through the final season of what program insiders refer to as the dark ages.
"It was this horrific season and she was watching it unfold after her commitment," Watson said of a 9-22 record with which the Sun Devils finished 10th in the Pac-12, ahead of only Washington State and conference newcomer, Colorado. "I thought at the time, 'oh boy, she has got to be getting nervous about this.'"
Those closest to Gardner certainly were.
"There were people who were like 'hey, what about this other program? You have all these other options,'" Gardner said. "Some told me the record was a reflection of ASU's program but for me, I looked at it as a growing pain. I knew the character Jason had and I knew his goals. I wanted to be a part of it.
"When I made the decision to come to ASU, it was 100 percent. I was all in and it didn't really matter what the record was."
Four seasons later, it's fair to say that decision was the turning point for the program. The Sun Devils have advanced to the NCAA Tournament each of the past three seasons, that 2012 recruiting class also produced program standouts Bianca Arellano, Mercedes Binns, Whitney Follette and Andi Lowrance, and Gardner should own one of the sport's most coveted records when she concludes her senior season in December.
Gardner needs 194 kills to break Christine Garner's career school record of 1,871. She already owns two of the top three, single-season kill marks with 594 last season and 577 in 2012. Amanda Burbridge set the record with 599 in 2000.
"It was never in question that she could hit the ball hard and overpower people but in this conference, it has to be about more than that," Watson said. "You have to hit with range, you have to be able to get the ball in your window and know when to hit it, and you need to be able pass. Her passing game has improved dramatically, her blocking has improved dramatically and her range as hitter has improved dramatically."
Gardner tied the school record for kills in a single match with a career-high of 30 on Sept. 24 at Arizona. She also set the school record for points in a single match with 33 on Nov. 21 at Washington State. The third-team All-American was chosen to participate in USA Volleyball’s Collegiate All-Star Showcase at the USA National Team Center in Anaheim, Calif., from Jan. 5-16.
"The records and awards and honors are nice but we honestly aren't up for that," Gardner said. "We want to do something that has never been done before and I think we can."
The Sun Devils' oft-stated goal is to advance past the second round of the NCAA Tournament, something the program has never achieved. It's not blind ambition.
ASU was picked to finish second in the Pac-12 in the annual preseason coaches poll, behind defending conference champion and 2014 national semifinalist, Stanford. The Sun Devils are ranked 16th nationally in the AVCA preseason Coaches Poll -- one of nine Pac-12 teams in the top 25.
"It's humbling to be in that conversation and it's fun because we've never been in it," Watson said. "How do we respond to that? It's been fun trying to get to that point. Now it’s a whole different mindset to be in there and acknowledged. We're cautiously optimistic that we know how to deal with it."
That accomplished senior class and a wealth of experience are two reasons for optimism. So is an incoming class of six freshmen that Watson says will give the Sun Devils the best depth they've had since he took over the program in 2008.
All the same, Watson acknowledges that nobody in the program knows the feeling of advancing past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, where ASU fell in the round of 32 last year. That's where coaching and leadership will have to take over, led by Gardner.
"When you look at all the things she's accomplished she's still the same kid who stuck by our commitment to our program," Watson said. "All of this other stuff we celebrate about her is secondary to her wanting to help this team achieve something it never has.
"If the best player on the team isn't going to make it about her, then how can you? You can try, but at the end of the day it's not going to fly and I think that attitude filters down. I think our leaders want this, they've worked hard to do it and they understand what it takes."
Follow Craig Morgan on Twitter
2015 Preseason Pac-12 Volleyball Coaches Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses)
1 Stanford (11) 121
2 Arizona State 99
3 Washington (1) 97
4 Oregon 94
5 USC 84
6 Colorado 61
7 Arizona 60
8 UCLA 57
9 Oregon State 35
10 Utah 34
11 California 28
12 Washington State 22