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@SunDevilVB Defeats Nevada To Open Gonzaga Invitational

@SunDevilVB Defeats Nevada To Open Gonzaga Invitational@SunDevilVB Defeats Nevada To Open Gonzaga Invitational
SPOKANE, Wash. -- The Arizona State volleyball team (4-0) defeated Nevada-Reno (2-2) in four sets, 23-35, 25-23, 25-17, 25-19, Friday afternoon to open play at the 2017 Gonzaga Invitational.

With the victory, the Sun Devils improve to 4-0 on the season and extend their current match-win streak dating back to the 2016 season to seven. 

Three Sun Devils finished the contest with double-digit kills to spearhead a balanced offensive attack: senior Oluoma Okaro with 20, sophomore Ivana Jeremic with 16, and freshman Griere Hughes with 13.

Okaro's 20-kill tally matched a career-high for the veteran outside hitter. The Lakewood, Calif., native who also added a career-best 19 digs to account for the match's only double-double, has recorded double-figure kills in seven consecutive outings and 19 times over the span of her Sun Devil career. She has also now managed a double-double in three-of-four of Arizona State's tilts this season. 

Jeremic who also contributed five digs and four blocks in the effort, has notched double-digit kill totals in three matches this season, while standout true freshman Griere Hughes' 13 kill haul matched a career-high for the newcomer. 

Continuing to impress out of the gate of her collegiate career was freshman Shelbie Dobmeier who signed off on an exceptional 49-assist effort, marking a career-high performance for the Lakewood, Calif., native. Entering the weekend as the Pac-12 Conference's assists leader, Dobemier now boasts a season-tally of 165 (12.69 digs per set).

Leading the Arizona State defensive charge was senior leader Halle Harker who notched a match-best 22 kills to move her career total to 1,486. Currently sitting fifth in program history in career digs, Harker is now 42 digs away from Jami Coughlin's fourth-place career mark of 1,528. 

ASU Career Digs Leaders...
  1. Sydney Donahue, 2004-07-- 2385**
  2. Stephanie Preach, 2010-2013—2010
  3. Christy Nore, 1985-88 –1597
  4. Jami Coughlin, 1998-2001—1528
  5. Halle Harker, 2014-present—1486
The Sun Devils collectively showed grit in the outing mounting a furious comeback after dropping the contest's opening frame, 25-23 and falling behind 7-3 early in the afternoon's second set. Riding an 8-0 run, the Maroon and Gold would pull ahead 11-7, before ultimately cruising to a second set victory. From that point Arizona State would never relent control of the match winning sets three and four, 25-17, 25-19, respectively to cap the victory.

Up next, the Sun Devils will take on tournament-host Gonzaga at 7 p.m. PT.

Match Notes
Kills:
Okaro (20*), Jeremic (16), Hughes (13*)
*Career high

Assists: Dobmeier (49*)
*Career high 

Digs: Harker (22)

Blocks: Jeremic (4), Hughes (3*), Grahovac (3)
*Career high