Courtesy Connor Johnson, SDA Communications
TEMPE, Ariz.—The No. 6 Arizona State volleyball team continued their blistering start to the 2015 season, defeating the visiting No. 8 Stanford Cardinal (8-4, 2-2) in four sets (25-21, 22-25, 25-19, 25-19) on Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena.
“I know that our senior class has had a chance to have some success against everyone in the conference except Stanford,” head coach Jason Watson said. “I know that meant a lot to them tonight so I am happy for them and in awe that 3,500 people would come out to watch us on a Friday night.”
The Sun Devils are now 14-0 on the season and 3-0 in conference play, matching the best start in league action since the 1986 ASU squad started 3-0 in the Pac-10.
Tonight’s victory snapped a 28-game losing streak against the Cardinal. ASU’s last win, on Sept. 30, 2000, was also at home and in four sets.
Senior Macey Gardner moved ever closer to the school record for career kills, finishing with a double-double of 22 kills and 11 digs in a dominating performance. Gardner now has 1,859 career kills, 12 away from the school record of 1,871 (Christine Garner, 1992-95).
“Macey Gardner is the real deal if you haven’t figured that out already,” Watson said. “Her performance tonight I think is one of the best performances I have ever seen in a real long time.”
Three other Sun Devils finished with double-digit kills, led by senior Whitney Follette, who had 12 kills and five blocks. Juniors Bree Bailey and Cassidy Pickrell each added 11 kills.
The setter duo of Bianca Arellano (26) and Kylie Pickrell (25) combined for 51 assists. Both setters also finished with five digs.
Hayley Hodson led Stanford with 18 kills and seven digs, while Merete Lutz added 15 kills and six blocks.
Up next for ASU is a matchup against California (6-8, 0-3) on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. PT. The match will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks.
Match Notes
Kills: Gardner (22), Follette (12), C. Pickrell (11), Bailey (11)
Top Attack Pct: Follette (.526; 12K, 2E, 19TA), Bailey (.500; 11K, 1E, 20 TA), Binns (.375; 3K, 0E, 8TA)
Assists: Arellano (26), K. Pickrell (25)
Digs: Harker (23), Gardner (11)
Blocks: Follette (5TB; 1BS, 4BA)
Double-Doubles: Gardner (Sixth; 22 kills & 11 digs)
Top Team Attack Pct: 1st (.390; 19K, 3E, 41TA), 4th (.366; 19K, 4E, 41TA)
ASU’S TOP PAC-10/12 STARTS
2015 - ASU def. Arizona (3-1), Oregon State (3-0), Stanford (3-1)
1986 - ASU def. Oregon (3-2), Oregon State (3-2), USC (3-1)
1989 - ASU def. Oregon (3-1), Oregon State (3-0)
1994 - ASU def. Oregon (3-0), Oregon State (3-2)
1999 - ASU def. Oregon (3-0), Oregon State (3-0)
Best Starts In ASU History
1. 1973: 21-0 (Mary Littlewood, Intermountain Conference)
2. 2015: 14-0 (Jason Watson, Pac-12 Conference)
3. 1976: 11-0 (Mary LIttlewood, Intermountain Conference)
4. 1985: 9-0 (Debbie Brown, Pacific West Conference)
5. 1981: 8-0 (Dale Flickinger, WCAA)
6. 1992: 8-0 (Patti Snyder-Park, Pac-10 Conference)
7. 5x at 7-0 (1x Debbie Brown (1988), 3x Patti Snyder-Park (1993, 1995, 1997), Jason Watson (2013)
Top-25 Wins Under Watson (18)
Oct. 2, 2015 No. 8 Stanford—W 3-1
Sept. 24, 2015 No. 14 Arizona—W 3-1
Sept. 19, 2015 No. 6 Illinois—W 3-2
Sept. 4, 2015 No. 9 Colorado State—W 3-0
Nov. 26 2014 No. 17 UCLA*—W 3-2
Oct. 24, 2014 No. 11 Oregon*—W 3-2
Sept. 26, 2014 No. 9 USC*—W 3-1
Aug. 30, 2014 No. 17 Hawaii—W 3-0
Nov. 1, 2013 No. 23 Oregon*—W 3-1
Sept. 13, 2013 No. 2 Texas—W 3-0
Aug. 31, 2013 No. 24 Wichita State — W 3-0
Nov. 21, 2012 at No. 5 Washington*—W 3-1
Nov. 2, 2012 No. 6 USC*—W 3-0
Nov. 24, 2010 at No. 2 California*—W 3-2
Oct. 16, 2010 No. 10 UCLA*—W 3-1
Oct. 15, 2010 No. 5 USC*—W 3-1
Sept. 25, 2009 No. 14 UCLA*—W 3-0
Oct. 25, 2008 at No. 24 Oregon State*—W 3-0
Top-10 ASU Home Attendance In The Watson Era
1. Arizona (9/24/15)--5,152*
2. Washington(10/17/14)--4,185
3. USC (10/18/13)--3,975
4. Oregon State (11/13/14)--3,667
5. Stanford (10/2/15)--3,464
6. Arizona (11/28/14)--3,287
7. Arizona (10/29/10)--3,017
8. Arizona (9/24/13)--2,293
9. Oregon State (10/19/12)--1,873
10. Arizona (11/19/13)--1867
*Includes student-section record of 2,011
Career Records Of Note
Kills
1. Christine Garner, 1992-95—1871
2. Macey Gardner (2012-present)—1859
3. Sarah Reaves, 2007-10—1796
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