SPOKANE, Wash. – The Arizona State volleyball team (4-1) fell in a highly-contested five-set (25-18, 22-25, 25-20, 23-25, 13-15) meeting with tournament-host Gonzaga Friday evening, to cap the first day of play at the 2017 Gonzaga Invitational.
The Sun Devils who opened the day with a four-set (23-35, 25-23, 25-17, 25-19) defeat of Nevada-Reno, could not withstand a late surge on part of the host Bulldogs, earning a Friday split while moving to 4-1 on the young season.
"We didn't get the result we wanted tonight, but credit to Gonzaga," said Sun Devil head coach Sanja Tomasevic. "We know heading into tomorrow's match we're going to have to put this result behind us and move forward. Learning to overcome adversity, especially as a team is key, because it plays an integral role in the formation of a program's character. Facing adversity from time to time bodes well for a team that can learn and grow from it, and that is what we intend to do."
In their first true road test of the 2017 season, the Maroon and Gold surged out of the gate to the tune of an opening-frame, 25-18 victory, before dropping the contest's second set. Despite regaining the match lead following a third-set, 25-20 win, and trading punches with Gonzaga the closing two frames, Gonzaga earned a final set 15-13 victory to cap the loss.
Sun Devil true freshman setter Shelbie Dobmeier once again shined in the effort, recording a career-high 52 assists. She now boasts an impressive assists per set, season tally of 12.06, and has paced the Sun Devils in the category in each of team's five respective matches on the season.
The Sun Devil attack received steady contributions from the likes of Ivana Jeremic and Oluoma Okaro, who each recorded 17 kills on the outing. Swinging at an impressive clip of .378 (17/3/37) Jeremic also added six blocks and six digs, while Okaro contributed seven digs to Arizona State's defensive effort.
Yet again pacing the Sun Devils in digs was senior Halle Harker, who notched a season-best 27 kills. She is now 15 digs from Jami Coughlin's fourth-place career mark of 1,528.
ASU Career Digs Leaders...
Up next, the Sun Devils will cap the weekend and the 2017 Gonzaga Invitational Saturday with a meeting with Big Sky affiliate, Portland State. The match is slated for a 1 p.m. PT first-serve. The tilt will represent a rematch of a Sept. 16, 2016 contest between the two teams, that saw the Vikings capture a four-set, 3-1 victory.
The Sun Devils who opened the day with a four-set (23-35, 25-23, 25-17, 25-19) defeat of Nevada-Reno, could not withstand a late surge on part of the host Bulldogs, earning a Friday split while moving to 4-1 on the young season.
"We didn't get the result we wanted tonight, but credit to Gonzaga," said Sun Devil head coach Sanja Tomasevic. "We know heading into tomorrow's match we're going to have to put this result behind us and move forward. Learning to overcome adversity, especially as a team is key, because it plays an integral role in the formation of a program's character. Facing adversity from time to time bodes well for a team that can learn and grow from it, and that is what we intend to do."
In their first true road test of the 2017 season, the Maroon and Gold surged out of the gate to the tune of an opening-frame, 25-18 victory, before dropping the contest's second set. Despite regaining the match lead following a third-set, 25-20 win, and trading punches with Gonzaga the closing two frames, Gonzaga earned a final set 15-13 victory to cap the loss.
Sun Devil true freshman setter Shelbie Dobmeier once again shined in the effort, recording a career-high 52 assists. She now boasts an impressive assists per set, season tally of 12.06, and has paced the Sun Devils in the category in each of team's five respective matches on the season.
The Sun Devil attack received steady contributions from the likes of Ivana Jeremic and Oluoma Okaro, who each recorded 17 kills on the outing. Swinging at an impressive clip of .378 (17/3/37) Jeremic also added six blocks and six digs, while Okaro contributed seven digs to Arizona State's defensive effort.
Yet again pacing the Sun Devils in digs was senior Halle Harker, who notched a season-best 27 kills. She is now 15 digs from Jami Coughlin's fourth-place career mark of 1,528.
ASU Career Digs Leaders...
- Sydney Donahue, 2004-07-- 2385**
- Stephanie Preach, 2010-2013—2010
- Christy Nore, 1985-88 –1597
- Jami Coughlin, 1998-2001—1528
- Halle Harker, 2014-present—1513
Up next, the Sun Devils will cap the weekend and the 2017 Gonzaga Invitational Saturday with a meeting with Big Sky affiliate, Portland State. The match is slated for a 1 p.m. PT first-serve. The tilt will represent a rematch of a Sept. 16, 2016 contest between the two teams, that saw the Vikings capture a four-set, 3-1 victory.