SPOKANE, Wash. – The Arizona State volleyball team (4-2) dropped a four-set match to Portland State (21-25, 25-18, 20-25, 23-25), Saturday afternoon, to cap play at the 2017 Gonzaga Invitational.
"As we head back to Tempe and prep for this coming weekend's tournament up north, it's imperative we learn from our mistakes and put this weekend's result in the rear view mirror, said Sun Devil head coach Sanja Tomasevic. "We are a talented, but young team that's still learning to mesh and compete together. We are aiming for continued improvement and growth in the coming weeks and look forward to getting back into the gym on Monday."
After dropping the contest's opening frame, 25-21, the Sun Devils rebounded taking set two in convincing fashion, 25-18 and appeared poised to gain control of the match. Despite trading punches with the Vikings for the better part of the match's final two frames, Portland State garnered third and fourth set victories of 25-20, 25-23 respectively to earn the win.
Senior Oluoma Okaro once again anchored the attack for the Maroon and Gold, recording a career-best 21 kills while hitting at a clip of .333 (21/6/45). The Lakewood, Calif. native who has now paced the Sun Devils in kills in five of the team's six outings on the season, also added five digs and four blocks. For a second-consecutive weekend Okaro garnered all-tournament honors, earning selection to the Gonzaga All-Tournament Team.
Also signing off on a career-best performance was freshman Griere Hughes who tallied a career-high 14 kills (.440, 14/3/25). The Sun Devil newcomer continues to impress out of the gate of her collegiate career, and has now recorded double-figure kills performances in three consecutive outings.
Of pertinent historical note, senior Halle Harker's 16-dig outing pushed the libero's career tally to 1,529, moving her into fourth-place in program history in career digs. She passes former Sun Devil great Jami Coughlin (1998-2001, 1528) and now sits 68 digs shy of Christy Nore's third-place mark of 1,597.
ASU Career Digs Leaders...
Pacing the Sun Devils at the net, junior Peyton Grahovac recorded five blocks while also adding five kills.
Up next, the Sun Devils will travel to Northern Arizona for a trio of matches, Sept. 8-9. Arizona State will face off with Cal State Bakersfield and tournament-host Northern Arizona on Fri., Sept. 8, before capping the in-state trek with a meeting with Utah State on Sat., Sept. 9.
"As we head back to Tempe and prep for this coming weekend's tournament up north, it's imperative we learn from our mistakes and put this weekend's result in the rear view mirror, said Sun Devil head coach Sanja Tomasevic. "We are a talented, but young team that's still learning to mesh and compete together. We are aiming for continued improvement and growth in the coming weeks and look forward to getting back into the gym on Monday."
After dropping the contest's opening frame, 25-21, the Sun Devils rebounded taking set two in convincing fashion, 25-18 and appeared poised to gain control of the match. Despite trading punches with the Vikings for the better part of the match's final two frames, Portland State garnered third and fourth set victories of 25-20, 25-23 respectively to earn the win.
Senior Oluoma Okaro once again anchored the attack for the Maroon and Gold, recording a career-best 21 kills while hitting at a clip of .333 (21/6/45). The Lakewood, Calif. native who has now paced the Sun Devils in kills in five of the team's six outings on the season, also added five digs and four blocks. For a second-consecutive weekend Okaro garnered all-tournament honors, earning selection to the Gonzaga All-Tournament Team.
Also signing off on a career-best performance was freshman Griere Hughes who tallied a career-high 14 kills (.440, 14/3/25). The Sun Devil newcomer continues to impress out of the gate of her collegiate career, and has now recorded double-figure kills performances in three consecutive outings.
Of pertinent historical note, senior Halle Harker's 16-dig outing pushed the libero's career tally to 1,529, moving her into fourth-place in program history in career digs. She passes former Sun Devil great Jami Coughlin (1998-2001, 1528) and now sits 68 digs shy of Christy Nore's third-place mark of 1,597.
ASU Career Digs Leaders...
- Sydney Donahue, 2004-07-- 2385
- Stephanie Preach, 2010-2013—2010
- Christy Nore, 1985-88 –1597
- Halle Harker, 2014-present—1529
- Jami Coughlin, 1998-2001—1528
Pacing the Sun Devils at the net, junior Peyton Grahovac recorded five blocks while also adding five kills.
Up next, the Sun Devils will travel to Northern Arizona for a trio of matches, Sept. 8-9. Arizona State will face off with Cal State Bakersfield and tournament-host Northern Arizona on Fri., Sept. 8, before capping the in-state trek with a meeting with Utah State on Sat., Sept. 9.