Courtesy Connor Johnson (SDA Communications)
TEMPE, Ariz.—The No. 10 Arizona State volleyball team held off a strong effort from the visiting Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (5-2) to win in four sets (25-17, 13-25, 25-13, 25-20) on Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Arena.
“I thought that at times we were reflective of our ranking and how well we’ve been playing and at other times we looked like a work in progress,” head coach Jason Watson said. “Overall, I’m pretty pleased.”
The win moved ASU to 7-0 on the season, the second time that the Sun Devils have started out the season with seven straight wins under Watson. ASU’s best start since joining the Pac-10 in 1986 was 8-0 in 1992 under Patti Snyder-Park.
Seniors Macey Gardner and Whitney Follette led the Sun Devils with 11 kills each. Gardner added 15 digs and became just the 10th player in ASU history to have more than 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career. She is also the 17th Sun Devil to surpass 1,000 digs in her career.
ASU’s size up front was a factor all game long as the Sun Devils finished with 14.0 blocks, while the Lumberjacks had 9.0. Bree Bailey led ASU with four solo blocks, a career high. Bailey also had six block assists to go along with eight kills.
The setter duo of Bianca Arellano and Kylie Pickrell each finished with 19 assists, and added 15 and seven digs, respectively. This marks Arellano’s fourth double-double in as many matches.
Janae Vander Ploeg led the way for NAU, finishing with 17 kills and 13 digs. Lauren Jacobsen, sister of ASU basketball player Eric Jacobsen, added 10 kills and 10 digs.
Up next, the No. 10 Sun Devils take on Gonzaga on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 2 p.m. PT at Wells Fargo Arena.
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Match Notes
Kills: Follette (11), Gardner (11)
Top Attack Pct: Binns (.636; 7K, 0E, 11TA), Follette (.381; 11K, 3E, 21TA)
Assists: Arellano (19), K. Pickrell (19)
Digs: Arellano (15), Gardner (15), Harker (13)
Double-Doubles: Arellano (4th; 19 assists & 15 digs), Gardner (2nd; 11 kills & 15 digs)
Top Blockers: Bailey (10; 4BA & 6BA), Follette (5; 1BS, 4BA)
Top Attack Pct By Set: 1st (.375; 14K, 2E, 32TA), 3rd (.367; 13K, 2E, 30TA)
Watson Career Note: ASU’s 7-0 start matches the best start in the Watson era. ASU went 7-0 to start 2013. The last time ASU went 8-0 was in 1992 under Patti Snyder-Park.
Career Records Of Note
Kills
1. Christine Garner, 1992-95—1871
2. Sarah Reaves, 2007-10—1796
3. Macey Gardner (2012-present)—1746
Sun Devils With 1,000+ Career Digs
1. Sydney Donahue, 2004-07—2385** Pac-12 Record
2. Stephanie Preach, 2010-2013—2010
3. Christy Nore, 1985-88—1597
4. Jami Coughlin, 1998-01—1528
5. Sarah Johnson, 2007-10 —1439
6. Terri Cox, 1994-97—1382
7. Mindy Gowell, 1987-91—1365
8. Leanne Schuster, 1991-94—1284
9. Christine Garner, 1992-95—1253
10. Nancy Christian, 1990-93—1221
11. Margie Giordano, 2005-08—1218
12. Kelly Plaisted, 1987-90—1194
13. Tammy Webb, 1983-86—1178
14. Courtney Blocher, 2000-03—1173
15. Amanda Burbridge, 1997-00—1056
16. Noelle Fridrich, 1986-89—1050
17. Macey Gardner, 2012-present—1007
1000 Career Kills & 1000 Career Digs
1. Christine Garner, 1992-95 —1871 kills & 1,253 digs
2. Macey Gardner (2012-present) —1,746 kills & 1,007 digs
3. Tammy Webb, 1983-86—1679 kills & 1,178 digs
4. Amanda Burbridge, 1997-00—1597 kills & 1,056 digs
5. Christy Nore, 1985-88—1517 kills & 1,597 digs
6. Jami Coughlin, 1998-01—1360 kills & 1,528 digs
7. Margie Giordano, 2005-08—1312 kills & 1,218 digs
8. Mindy Gowell, 1987-91—1260 kills & 1,365 digs
9. Terri Cox, 1994-97—1185 kills & 1,382 digs
10. Leanne Schuster, 1991-94—1031 kills & 1,284 digs
*organized by number of career kills