LOS ANGELES—The No. 10 Sun Devil volleyball team (15-3, 4-3 Pac-12) debuted a new offensive lineup on Friday night, but fell to No. 1 USC (19-0, 7-0 Pac-12), 25-15, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, at the Galen Center.
Prior to the match, the Trojans have only dropped seven sets on the year, and the Sun Devils were able to take the eighth from them with the 25-23 win in the third frame.
Senior Whitney Follette, who made what was likely her career debut in the outside hitter role, recorded a season high 13 kills, while juniors Cassidy Pickrell and Bree Bailey added nine apiece.
Freshman Lexi MacLean, who made her first career start for the Sun Devils on Friday night, recorded a pair of service aces on the night, and also helped anchor the ASU comeback try late in the fourth set, serving from down 17-24, which included the second service ace to cut the deficit to one point.
ASU had a significant blocking advantage in the match at 14.5-80, including a 6.0-2.0 best in the fourth. Seniors Mercedes Binns and Andi Lowrance both recorded six block assists for the match. Lowrance’s total matches her career best, which she last set against Colorado in 2014.
Samantha Bricio led the Trojans with 24 kills, while Alyse Ford added 13 and Brittany Abercrombie picked up 11.
Up next for the Sun Devils is UCLA on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. PT at the Wooden Center. The match will air on the Pac-12 Networks.
Match Notes
Kills: Follette (13), C. Pickrell (9), Bailey (9)
Assists: Arellano (15), K. Pickrell (15)
Digs: Harker (21), C. Pickrell (12)
Blocks: Binns (6BA), Lowrance (6BA), Bailey (5BA), Follette (4TB: 1BS, 3BA), MacLean (3TB: 1BS, 2BA)
Team Blocks: ASU 14.5, USC 8.0