By SDA Media Relations Student Assistant, Connor Smith
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- The Arizona State volleyball team (6-2) won their second match of the day, a 3-1 (17-25, 25-13, 25-14, 25-18) victory over host Northern Arizona Friday evening, to cap off opening day at the 2017 Lumberjack Classic.
With the win, the Sun Devils improve to 6-2 on the 2017 campaign.
Despite dropping the first set of the match, the Devils managed to regroup led by a balanced offensive attack. Oluoma Okaro continued to build on her big day, leading the way offensively, collecting 19 kills in the night cap after amassing 18 kills in her previous match on the day. Okaro also got it done defensively for the Sun Devils, recording her fourth double-double of the season thanks to her 13 digs. She has now tallied double-figure kills in each of her first eight matches of the season.
The Sun Devils would find their groove beginning in the second set, picking up dominating victories over the tournament hosts in both the second and third set before eventually defeating Northern Arizona in four sets.
"I am proud with how we came out and executed today. We bounced back from a tough outing this past weekend, and took a promising step forward" Coach Tomasevic said.
Okaro was not the only weapon working for the offensive attack tonight, as Peyton Grahovac and Carmen Unzue controlled the action at the net. Grahovac tied her career-best mark with 13 kills, hitting at an impressive .310 clip. Not to be outdone, Unzue made significant contributions of her own, including a six-block performance which tied a season-high. Unzue made her swings count, accumulating nine kills on just 16 total attacks, good enough for a remarkable .500 hitting percentage.
In the fourth and final set, the Sun Devils pulled away from the Lumberjacks, thanks in large part to a .256 hitting percentage compared to the Lumberjack's .093 hitting percentage.
Freshman setter Shelbie Dobmeier provided a steadying presence at the Setter position, once again playing with maturity beyond her years. The freshman finished with 38 of Arizona State's 53 total assists on the night.
"I was really impressed with how Shelbie dictated the pace of the game in the second match. We wanted to play quick and and the team's passing allotted her the ability to facilitate that" Coach Tomasevic stated.
Outside Hitter's Ivana Jeremic and Griere Hughes had 7 and 6 kills respectively for the Sun Devils.
Continuing her climb up the ASU career digs leaderboard, senior libero Halle Harker's team-best 21-dig performance pushed her career tally to 1,562. She now sits 35 digs shy of Christy Nore's third-place mark of 1,597.
ASU Career Digs Leaders...
Match Notes
Kills: Okaro (19), Grahovac (13), Unzue (9), Jeremic (7)
Assists: Dobmeier (38), Peterson (7)
Digs: Harker (21), Okaro (13), Leffel (11)
Blocks: Unzue (6), Okaro (3)
Service Aces: Okaro (2), Leffel (2)
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- The Arizona State volleyball team (6-2) won their second match of the day, a 3-1 (17-25, 25-13, 25-14, 25-18) victory over host Northern Arizona Friday evening, to cap off opening day at the 2017 Lumberjack Classic.
With the win, the Sun Devils improve to 6-2 on the 2017 campaign.
Despite dropping the first set of the match, the Devils managed to regroup led by a balanced offensive attack. Oluoma Okaro continued to build on her big day, leading the way offensively, collecting 19 kills in the night cap after amassing 18 kills in her previous match on the day. Okaro also got it done defensively for the Sun Devils, recording her fourth double-double of the season thanks to her 13 digs. She has now tallied double-figure kills in each of her first eight matches of the season.
The Sun Devils would find their groove beginning in the second set, picking up dominating victories over the tournament hosts in both the second and third set before eventually defeating Northern Arizona in four sets.
"I am proud with how we came out and executed today. We bounced back from a tough outing this past weekend, and took a promising step forward" Coach Tomasevic said.
Okaro was not the only weapon working for the offensive attack tonight, as Peyton Grahovac and Carmen Unzue controlled the action at the net. Grahovac tied her career-best mark with 13 kills, hitting at an impressive .310 clip. Not to be outdone, Unzue made significant contributions of her own, including a six-block performance which tied a season-high. Unzue made her swings count, accumulating nine kills on just 16 total attacks, good enough for a remarkable .500 hitting percentage.
In the fourth and final set, the Sun Devils pulled away from the Lumberjacks, thanks in large part to a .256 hitting percentage compared to the Lumberjack's .093 hitting percentage.
Freshman setter Shelbie Dobmeier provided a steadying presence at the Setter position, once again playing with maturity beyond her years. The freshman finished with 38 of Arizona State's 53 total assists on the night.
"I was really impressed with how Shelbie dictated the pace of the game in the second match. We wanted to play quick and and the team's passing allotted her the ability to facilitate that" Coach Tomasevic stated.
Outside Hitter's Ivana Jeremic and Griere Hughes had 7 and 6 kills respectively for the Sun Devils.
Continuing her climb up the ASU career digs leaderboard, senior libero Halle Harker's team-best 21-dig performance pushed her career tally to 1,562. She now sits 35 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—1562
- Jami Coughlin, 1998-2001—1528
Match Notes
Kills: Okaro (19), Grahovac (13), Unzue (9), Jeremic (7)
Assists: Dobmeier (38), Peterson (7)
Digs: Harker (21), Okaro (13), Leffel (11)
Blocks: Unzue (6), Okaro (3)
Service Aces: Okaro (2), Leffel (2)