Courtesy Connor Johnson, SDA Communications
TEMPE, Ariz.—The No. 10 Arizona State volleyball team remained undefeated and moved to 10-0 on the year on Saturday afternoon, defeating the visiting Texas Southern Lady Tigers in three sets (25-15, 25-17, 25-8) in ASU’s second game of the Sun Devil Invitational at Wells Fargo Arena.
It is the Devils’ best start since 1976, when the team started 11-0.
Up next for the Sun Devils is a matchup against No. 6 Illinois (9-1) at 7 p.m. PT Saturday night. The match will be live streamed via the SunDevils.com.
Macey Gardner led ASU with 10 kills and is now 91 kills away from the school record.
It was a game of firsts for the Sun Devils, as three players saw their first action of the season. Freshman middle blocker Jasmine Koonts got the first home start of her ASU career and finished with three blocks, senior outside hitter Andi Lowrance saw her first action of the year and had two kills and junior defensive specialist Mia Mazon had a service ace in her first game this season. Freshman defensive specialist Blair Robalin also saw the court for the first time in her career.
The setter duo of Bianca Arellano (eight) and Kylie Pickrell (13) combined for 21 assists. The pair each added seven digs as well.
Match Notes
Kills: Gardner (10)
Top Attack Pct: C. Pickrell (.400; 3K, 1E, 5TA), Binns (.385; 6K, 1E, 13 TA), Gardner (.333; 10K, 2E, 24TA)
Assists: K. Pickrell (13)
Digs: Harker (9)
Best Starts In ASU History
1973: 21-0 (Mary Littlewood, Intermountain Conference)
1976: 11-0 (Mary LIttlewood, Intermountain Conference)
2015: 10-0 (Jason Watson, Pac-12 Conference)
1985: 9-0 (Debbie Brown, Pacific West 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)—1780