ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Arizona State volleyball team (10-2) defeated tournament-host UT Arlington in straight-sets (25-14, 25-16, 25-21), to cap both the Maverick Classic and their 2017 non-conference slate, Saturday evening.
The Maroon and Gold close non-conference play with a 10-2 record and six-match win streak to their credit.
Buoying the Arizona State defensive effort was senior, libero Halle Harker who notched a 20-dig outing. Hughes and junior Carmen Unzue led the Maroon and Gold on the block, each posting four in the effort.
Making her third consecutive start and fourth on the season, sophomore, setter Nicole Peterson recorded her first career double-double, signing off on an 38-assist, 10-dig outing.
The Sun Devils collectively looked strong out of the gate, piecing together a near perfect opening frame. Hitting at an error-free clip of .500, the Maroon and Gold cruised to a, 25-14, set one win. In a similar fashion, Arizona State took set two in dominating fashion, 25-16, before sealing the victory with a hard fought, 25-21 third set win.
The Sun Devils weekend cap was preceded by a 3-1 victory (25-20, 25-23, 17-25, 25-19) over Houston Baptist Saturday morning. Highlighting the win was senior, libero Halle Harker who moved into third in Sun Devil program history in career digs, courtesy of a match-best 23-dig outing.
Arizona State's gauntlet of a 20-match Pac-12 schedule will see the Sun Devils take on some of the nation's top teams. ASU will match up with the defending national champions, the Stanford Cardinal, twice during the regular season (Sep. 27 & Oct. 27). The Maroon and Gold will face a total of nine teams that made the NCAA tournament, including eight teams from the Pac-12 conference – Stanford, Washington, Washington State, Utah, Oregon, UCLA, USC and Arizona.
"We are beyond fortunate to compete in a topflight volleyball conference like the Pac-12," noted Tomasevic. "Each conference matchup will allot us a challenge in its own right and push us to improve day in and day out. The schedule is a grind, and will help mold this program's fortitude as we strive to cultivate a championship caliber culture and team."
Match Notes:
Kills: Okaro (17), Hughes (13), Jeremic (9)
Digs: Harker (20), Jeremic (11), Peterson (10)
Assists: Peterson (38), Harker (9)
Blocks: Unzue (4), Hughes (4)
The Maroon and Gold close non-conference play with a 10-2 record and six-match win streak to their credit.
"We are fortunate to be 10-2 heading into conference play," said Sun Devil head coach Sanja Tomasevic. "I am pleased with how we competed this evening, following consecutive stagnant outings here in Arlington. We are now focused on and looking forward to the gauntlet that is the Pac-12 conference. We understand the challenge it affords and are excited to hit the ground running."
Playing pivotal roles respectively in Arizona State's 3-0 outing at the 2017 Maverick Classic, were freshman Griere Hughes and senior Oluoma Okaro who netted all-tournament honors. The honor represents Okaro's fourth on the season, while constituting the first in the promising career of Hughes. The duo combined for 30 kills (Okaro-17, Hughes-13) on the evening, anchoring a Sun Devil attack that closed the contest with a .358 hitting percentage (109-50-11).Buoying the Arizona State defensive effort was senior, libero Halle Harker who notched a 20-dig outing. Hughes and junior Carmen Unzue led the Maroon and Gold on the block, each posting four in the effort.
Making her third consecutive start and fourth on the season, sophomore, setter Nicole Peterson recorded her first career double-double, signing off on an 38-assist, 10-dig outing.
The Sun Devils collectively looked strong out of the gate, piecing together a near perfect opening frame. Hitting at an error-free clip of .500, the Maroon and Gold cruised to a, 25-14, set one win. In a similar fashion, Arizona State took set two in dominating fashion, 25-16, before sealing the victory with a hard fought, 25-21 third set win.
The Sun Devils weekend cap was preceded by a 3-1 victory (25-20, 25-23, 17-25, 25-19) over Houston Baptist Saturday morning. Highlighting the win was senior, libero Halle Harker who moved into third in Sun Devil program history in career digs, courtesy of a match-best 23-dig outing.
"Halle operates as the back bone and standard bearer of this program, and I am elated to see her move into such distinguished company," said Tomasevic regarding the Sun Devil senior.
ASU Career Digs Leaders...- Sydney Donahue, 2004-07-- 2385
- Stephanie Preach, 2010-2013—2010
- Halle Harker, 2014-present—1633
- Christy Nore, 1985-88 –1597
- Jami Coughlin, 1998-2001—1528
Arizona State's gauntlet of a 20-match Pac-12 schedule will see the Sun Devils take on some of the nation's top teams. ASU will match up with the defending national champions, the Stanford Cardinal, twice during the regular season (Sep. 27 & Oct. 27). The Maroon and Gold will face a total of nine teams that made the NCAA tournament, including eight teams from the Pac-12 conference – Stanford, Washington, Washington State, Utah, Oregon, UCLA, USC and Arizona.
"We are beyond fortunate to compete in a topflight volleyball conference like the Pac-12," noted Tomasevic. "Each conference matchup will allot us a challenge in its own right and push us to improve day in and day out. The schedule is a grind, and will help mold this program's fortitude as we strive to cultivate a championship caliber culture and team."
Match Notes:
Kills: Okaro (17), Hughes (13), Jeremic (9)
Digs: Harker (20), Jeremic (11), Peterson (10)
Assists: Peterson (38), Harker (9)
Blocks: Unzue (4), Hughes (4)