TUCSON, Ariz.—The Arizona State volleyball team (19-12, 8-12 Pac-12) fell in four sets to No. 23 Arizona (19-13, 9-11 Pac-12), 25-23, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21, on Friday night at the McKale Center, capping the 2015 regular season.
“It’s disappointing because defensively I thought we put some pressure on them, had a nice game plan going, but we struggled offensively and that was the difference,” head coach Jason Watson said. “In order for us to be better and perhaps see postseason play, we needed our hitters to be cleaner and manage things better. Unfortunately, we didn’t’ get it done this week at all.”
Junior Cassidy Pickrell led the way with 18 kills, while fellow junior Bree Bailey added 10. Pickrell also added 17 digs for her eighth double-double of the year.
Senior Whitney Follette had eight blocks on the night, while senior Mercedes Binns added four, along with six kills on 13 swings for .462 hitting. Senior Bianca Arellano posted three blocks, and also posted her 14th double-double of the season with 36 assists and 12 digs.
Follette now has 362 block assists in her career, No. 2 all-time at ASU, along with 446 career block assists, No. 3 all-time at ASU. Binns moved up to No. 7 in block assists with 281 while she also moved into the ASU top-10 in total blocks at No. 8 with 330.
Kendra Dahlke led Arizona with 13 kills, while Tyler Spriggs added 12 and Halli Amaro added 10 on .320 attacking. The Wildcats take one half of the Territorial Cup Series ® point, but ASU still holds a 4.5 to 0.5 advantage following the fall sport matchups.
“Our fate lies in the hands of the committee, and you want to control your postseason destiny yourselves but we weren’t able to do that,” Watson said. “I think we’re a bubble team to make the tournament, and we’ll see what the committee decides on Sunday.”
The Sun Devils will discover their postseason fates on Sunday, Nov. 29, with the announcement of the 2015 NCAA Tournament selections. The Selection Show will air at 7 p.m. MT on ESPNU.
Match Notes
Kills: C. Pickrell (18), Bailey (10)
Assists: Arellano (36)
Digs: Harker (20), C. Pickrell (17), Arellano (12)
Double-Doubles: Arellano (14th; 36 assists & 12 digs), C. Pickrell (8th; 18 kills & 17 digs)
Top Blocks: Follette (8TB: 2BS, 6BA), Binns (4BA), Arellano (3BA)
Career Records of Note
Block Assists
1. Tina Berg, 1987-90—378
2. Whitney Follette (2012-present)—362
3. Sonja Markanovich, 2008-11—329
4. Sue Nord, 1986-89—305
5. Erica Wilson, 2009-12—297
6. Tammy Webb, 1983-86—296
7. Mercedes Binns (2012-present)—281
8. Debbie Penney, 1988-91—276
9. Nancy Christian, 1990-93—272
10. Laura Hibsman, 1996-99—259
Total Blocks
1. Tina Berg, 1987-90—530
2. Tammy Webb, 1983-86—492
3. Whitney Follette, 2012-present—446
4. Sue Nord, 1986-89—421
5. Kirstin Mattson, 1993-97—362
6. Sonja Markanovich, 2008-11—358
7. Tracey Barnerie, 1984-87—341
8. Mercedes Binns, 2012-present—330
9. Amy Nelson, 1990-92—328
10. Erica Wilson, 2009-2012—325
Assists
1. Regina Stahl, 1984-87—5180
2. Cheryl Anglin, 2000-03—4296
3. Marina Mercer, 2006-09—3680
4. Bianca Arellano, 2013-present—3177