Courtesy Connor Johnson, SDA Communications
TEMPE, Ariz.—The No. 10 Arizona State volleyball team pulled away late and defeated the visiting Gonzaga Bulldogs (7-3) in four sets (25-23, 20-25, 25-14, 25-17) on Sunday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena.
“There’s lots more to play and a lot more to be better at, but we feel really good about where we are at and the work that we’ve done,” head coach Jason Watson said. “I’m proud of our team and proud of our seniors. I feel very blessed and very fortunate to be coaching this group of athletes.”
With Sunday’s victory ASU is now 8-0 this season, the team’s best start under Watson. It also ties the Devils’ best start since joining the Pac-10 in 1986, which ASU also achieved in 1992.
The Sun Devils had four players finish with at least 10 kills and their balanced attack proved to be a big difference maker. Senior Macey Gardner led ASU with 16 kills, while Bree Bailey (13), Kizzy Ricedorff (11) and Whitney Follette (10) each finished in double figures.
Four ASU players also finished with at least 15 digs, led by Halle Harker, who finished with 17. Bianca Arellano, Cassidy Pickrell and Gardner each finished with 15.
The setter duo of Bianca Arellano (30) and Kylie Pickrell (23) combined for 53 assists. Arellano has now finished with a double-double in five straight matches.
Savannah Blinn led Gonzaga with 19 kills and seven digs, while Jordan Gasser finished with 11 kills and 10 digs for the Bulldogs.
ASU hosts the Red Lion Invitational starting next Friday, Sept. 18. The Sun Devils’ first match of the tournament will be against UNLV at Noon PT on Friday at Wells Fargo Arena. They will follow with two games on Saturday, where they will take on Texas Southern at Noon PT and No. 7 Illinois at 7 p.m. PT.
All six matches in the Red Lion Invitational will be live streamed via TheSunDevils.com.
Match Notes
Kills: Gardner (16), Bailey (13), Ricedorff (11), Follette (10)
Top Attack Pct: Ricedorff (.500; 11K, 0E, 22TA), Follette (.333; 10K, 3E, 21TA), Gardner (.316; 16K, 4E 38 TA)
Assists: Arellano (30), K. Pickrell (23)
Digs: Harker (17), Arellano (15), Gardner (15), C. Pickrell (15)
Double-Doubles: Arellano (5th; 30 assists & 15 digs), Gardner (3rd; 16 kills & 15 digs)
Top Team Attack Pct: 3rd Set (.378; 15K, 1E, 37TA)
Best Starts In ASU History
1973: 21-0 (Mary Littlewood, Intermountain Conference)
1976: 11-0 (Mary LIttlewood, Intermountain Conference)
1985: 9-0 (Debbie Brown, Pacific West Conference)
2015: 8-0 (Jason Watson, Pac-12 Conference)
1981: 8-0 (Dale Flickinger, WCAA)
1992: 8-0 (Patti Snyder-Park, Pac-10 Conference)
5x at 7-0 (1x Debbie Brown (1988), 3x Patti Snyder-Park (1993, 1995, 1997), 2x Jason Watson (2013)
Career Records Of Note
Kills
1. Christine Garner, 1992-95—1871
2. Sarah Reaves, 2007-10—1796
3. Macey Gardner (2012-present)—1762