COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—The No. 16 Arizona State volleyball team (3-0) picked up a 3-0 (25-23, 25-13, 25-17) sweep of Air Force (0-3) to round out the Falcon Classic on Saturday at Falcon Court.
"I felt like all 3 teams we played this past weekend forced us to play better,” head coach Jason Watson said. “A lot of our focus has been on our side of the net - get our systems a little better. So I felt good about the progress we've made."
This marks the fourth straight year that the Sun Devils have started the year at 3-0.
Leading the way for ASU was junior outside hitter Cassidy Pickrell with 12 kills, while senior outside hitter Macey Gardner added 10 on .300 hitting. Gardner now has 1,705 career kills, making her the third Sun Devil to surpass the mark of 1,700.
Senior middle blocker Whitney Follette added seven kills on .455 hitting, along with six total blocks. Her career total for block assists, 274, sits at No. 7 all-time at ASU, while her career total for blocks overall, 331, also sits at No. 7 overall. Also for the Sun Devils, Gardner and freshman middle blocker Jasmine Koonts added five block assists apiece.
For the Falcons, Shelley Spires and Taylor Parker led the way with seven kills apiece, while Parker and Maggie Sherrill each added four blocks.
"I especially liked Kizzy (Ricedorff) and Bree’s (Bailey) performances,” Watson said. “Both of them played real well. They kept us in the match with New Mexico State."
Up next, the Sun Devils return to the state of Colorado for a tournament co-hosted by Colorado State and Northern Colorado in Fort Collins. ASU will take on Colorado State on Friday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. PT/7 p.m. MT, and then take on Western Michigan on Saturday, Sept.5 at 10 a.m. PT/ 11 a.m. MT, followed by a match against Northern Colorado at 6 p.m. PT/7 p.m. MT.
Match Notes
Kills: C. Pickrell (12), Gardner (10), Follette (7)
Attack Pct: Follette (.455; 7K, 2E, 11 TA), Gardner (.300; 10K, 4E, 20 TA), Ricedorff (.300; 4K, 1E, 10TA)
Assists: Arellano (16), K. Pickrell (16)
Top Team Attack By Set: 2nd Set (.367; 14K, 3E, 30 TA), 3rd Set (.310; 13 K, 4E, 29TA)
Career Records Of Note:
Kills
1. Christine Garner, 1992-95—1871
2. Sarah Reaves, 2007-10—1796
3. Macey Gardner (2012-present)—1705
4. Tammy Webb, 1983-86—1679
5. Amanda Burbridge, 1997-2000—1597
6. Christy Nore, 1985-88—1517
7. Valentina Vega, 1982-83, 85-86—1392
8. Jami Coughlin, 1998-2001—1360
9. Margie Giordano, 2005-08—1312
10. Lisa Stuck, 1980-83—1296
Block Assists
1. Tina Berg, 1987-90—378
2. Sonja Markanovich, 2008-11—329
3. Sue Nord, 1986-89—305
4. Erica Wilson, 2009-12—297
5. Tammy Webb, 1983-86—296
6. Debbie Penney, 1988-91—276
7. Whitney Follette (2012-present)—274
8. Nancy Christian, 1990-93—272
9. Laura Hibsman, 1996-99—259
10. Kirstin Mattson, 1993-97—258
Total Blocks
1. Tina Berg, 1987-90—530
2. Tammy Webb, 1983-86—492
3. Sue Nord, 1986-89—421
4. Kirstin Mattson, 1993-97—362
5. Sonja Markanovich, 2008-11—358
6. Tracey Barnerie, 1984-87—341
7. Whitney Follette, 2012-present—331
8. Amy Nelson, 1990-92—328
9. Erica Wilson, 2009-2012—325