FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- The Arizona State volleyball team (7-2) capped play at the 2017 Lumberjack Classic with a straight-set (28-26, 25-20, 25-15) victory over Utah State, Saturday morning.
The Maroon and Gold's Saturday morning victory was preceded by Friday wins over Cal State Bakersfield (3-0) and Northern Arizona (3-1), granting Arizona State a three-match win streak. Senior libero, Halle Harker netted Lumberjack Classic MVP honors, while senior Oluoma Okaro and junior Peyton Grahovac earned selection to the event's all-tournament team.
"Following last weekend's outing we addressed with the team the need to learn from adversity, and emphasized the productive week of practices" Coach Tomasevic said.
The Sun Devils relied on senior Oluoma Okaro and freshman Griere Hughes to spark the offensive attack against the Aggies. Okaro, coming off a day where she recorded 37 kills in two matches, once again reached the double figure kill mark finishing with 14. She has now reached double figures in kills in each of the first nine matches of the season. Freshman Griere Hughes had her most efficient day to date as a Sun Devil, tallying 13 kills on only 17 total attacks, good enough for a remarkable .647 hitting percentage.
Arizona State, ranked 106th in the country coming into the weekend in Opponent Attack percentage, certainly improved their block and defense, limiting Utah State to a .114 hitting percentage. "We had a great week in the gym heading up to Friday and worked hard at identifying and improving upon team and individual weaknesses" Coach Tomasevic stated.
The Maroon and Gold finished the match with 10 total blocks and held Utah State to a .000 hitting percentage in each of the last two sets of the match. "I am proud of how we performed this weekend and look forward to continued improvement moving forward." Three Sun Devils combined to have at least two total blocks and five digs (Unzue, Okaro and Grahovac). Freshman setter Shelbie Dobmeier finished the match with 34 assists.
Senior libero Halle Harker's reached double digit digs once again, pacing the Sun Devils with 10 on the match. After compiling 43 digs this weekend, she now sits with 1,572 career digs, 25 digs shy of Christy Nore's third-place mark of 1,597.
ASU Career Digs Leaders...
Match Notes
Kills: Okaro (14), Hughes (13), Jeremic (7), Grahovac (5)
Assists: Dobmeier (34)
Digs: Harker (10), Okaro (7), Unzue (6)
Blocks: Unzue (5), Grahovac (4)
Service Aces: Okaro (3)
The Maroon and Gold's Saturday morning victory was preceded by Friday wins over Cal State Bakersfield (3-0) and Northern Arizona (3-1), granting Arizona State a three-match win streak. Senior libero, Halle Harker netted Lumberjack Classic MVP honors, while senior Oluoma Okaro and junior Peyton Grahovac earned selection to the event's all-tournament team.
"Following last weekend's outing we addressed with the team the need to learn from adversity, and emphasized the productive week of practices" Coach Tomasevic said.
The Sun Devils relied on senior Oluoma Okaro and freshman Griere Hughes to spark the offensive attack against the Aggies. Okaro, coming off a day where she recorded 37 kills in two matches, once again reached the double figure kill mark finishing with 14. She has now reached double figures in kills in each of the first nine matches of the season. Freshman Griere Hughes had her most efficient day to date as a Sun Devil, tallying 13 kills on only 17 total attacks, good enough for a remarkable .647 hitting percentage.
Arizona State, ranked 106th in the country coming into the weekend in Opponent Attack percentage, certainly improved their block and defense, limiting Utah State to a .114 hitting percentage. "We had a great week in the gym heading up to Friday and worked hard at identifying and improving upon team and individual weaknesses" Coach Tomasevic stated.
The Maroon and Gold finished the match with 10 total blocks and held Utah State to a .000 hitting percentage in each of the last two sets of the match. "I am proud of how we performed this weekend and look forward to continued improvement moving forward." Three Sun Devils combined to have at least two total blocks and five digs (Unzue, Okaro and Grahovac). Freshman setter Shelbie Dobmeier finished the match with 34 assists.
Senior libero Halle Harker's reached double digit digs once again, pacing the Sun Devils with 10 on the match. After compiling 43 digs this weekend, she now sits with 1,572 career digs, 25 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—1572
- Jami Coughlin, 1998-2001—1528
Match Notes
Kills: Okaro (14), Hughes (13), Jeremic (7), Grahovac (5)
Assists: Dobmeier (34)
Digs: Harker (10), Okaro (7), Unzue (6)
Blocks: Unzue (5), Grahovac (4)
Service Aces: Okaro (3)