BERKELEY, Calif.—Arizona State’s senior setter Bianca Arellano became just the fourth Sun Devil in program history to surpass 3000 career assists on Thursday night as the No. 14 Sun Devils (17-6, 6-6 Pac-12) ultimately fell to Cal (9-13, 3-8 Pac-12) in four, 14-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-22, at Haas Pavilion.
"We simple need to play better for longer,” head coach Jason Watson said. “It's not complicated, it's just hard to do. It's on me to find a way to get us to compete, be simple and play how we have shown we can for long periods of time."
Arellano had 41 assists on the night, bringing her career total to 3,001, and also added 10 digs for her 9th double-double of the year. She also added 3 kills on four tries and three blocks.
C. Pickrell with the kill from @biancatonk for her 3000th career assist! #EmbraceTheBattle pic.twitter.com/HgTNTE0a0V
— Sun Devil Volleyball (@SunDevilVB) October 30, 2015
Also recording a double-double was junior Cassidy Pickrell, who led ASU with 15 kills, the most since picking up 16 against Arizona on Sept. 24, and also posted 13 digs. Junior Bree Bailey added 12 kills and senior Whitney Follette was the third to hit in double-figures with 10.
Follette also moved up to sit at No. 2 all-time in block assists, recording four for the match and surpassing Sonja Markanovich’s (2008-11) career total of 329 with her mark of 333. Follette is 45 away from Tina Berg’s 25-year-old record of 378.
Playing in the back row for the first time against a conference foe this season, junior Mia Mazon recorded a new career best in digs with 12, while Harker led the Sun Devils on the night with 18.
Four Bears recorded double-figure kills, led by Lillian Schonewise’s 18 on .469 attacking.
Up next, the Sun Devils return home to host Washington and Washington State in a pair of Pac-12 Networks matches, next Friday and Sunday, respectively. The match against the Huskies is set for an 8 p.m. MT start, while the match against the Cougars will serve off at 2 p.m. MT.
Match Notes
Kills: C. Pickrell (15), Bailey (12), Follette (10)
Assists: Arellano (41)*
*Brought career total to 3,001, 4th Sun Devil to surpass 3,000
Digs: Harker (18), C. Pickrell (13), Mazon (12)
Blocks: Binns (6TB; 1BS & 5BA), Follette (4BA), Arellano (3BA)
Career Records Of Note
Block Assists
1. Tina Berg (1987-90)—378
2. Whitney Follette (2012-present)—333
3. Sonja Markanovich (2008-11)—329
Assists
1. Regina Stahl (1984-87)—5180
2. Cheryl Anglin (2000-03)—4296
3. Marina Mercer (2006-09)—3680
4. Bianca Arellano (2013-present)—3001