TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State volleyball dropped the final game of the 2018 Sparky Classic to Texas State in three sets on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena.
"There's a ton to improve on," coach Sanja Tomasevic said. "First and foremost, just follow the game plan and be patient. You're going to have to play long rallies. If you can't play long rallies now you're not going to play long rallies against Pac-12 teams. We want to finish fast and you have to just be smart and hit good high hand shots. Be smart and manage it."
Texas State held the lead for the majority of the first set before a service ace by Courtney Leffel tied it at 21-21. The Bobcats roared back to score the next four of five points and win it 25-22.
Led by Alyse Ford, the Sun Devils (9-3) made a ferocious comeback in the second set. After going down 19-9, Arizona State took a 25-24 lead after a kill by Shelbie Dobmeier. However, Texas State (9-5) fought back, scoring three-straight points to take the set.
Both teams traded blows early in the third set before the Bobcats pulled away, winning 25-17.
Ford led the team with 16 kills and Nicole Peterson added 10 kills. Dobmeier had a double-double with 28 assists and 10 digs.
Arizona State finishes the tournament with a 2-1 record, winning the first two matches yesterday against NAU and Gonzaga before dropping today's game.
"We're hungry to win, 100 percent," Peterson said. "I can see it in all of our faces, and we're close It's going to take time, but that drive, that swing, it's going to keep coming. It took a lot but I think I think today gave us some reassurance that we can win and we can be successful."
The Sun Devils start up conference play next week with a rivalry matchup at Arizona on Thursday, starting at 7 p.m. MST. The game will be the first of a four-game road trip for ASU.
"There's a ton to improve on," coach Sanja Tomasevic said. "First and foremost, just follow the game plan and be patient. You're going to have to play long rallies. If you can't play long rallies now you're not going to play long rallies against Pac-12 teams. We want to finish fast and you have to just be smart and hit good high hand shots. Be smart and manage it."
Texas State held the lead for the majority of the first set before a service ace by Courtney Leffel tied it at 21-21. The Bobcats roared back to score the next four of five points and win it 25-22.
Led by Alyse Ford, the Sun Devils (9-3) made a ferocious comeback in the second set. After going down 19-9, Arizona State took a 25-24 lead after a kill by Shelbie Dobmeier. However, Texas State (9-5) fought back, scoring three-straight points to take the set.
Both teams traded blows early in the third set before the Bobcats pulled away, winning 25-17.
Ford led the team with 16 kills and Nicole Peterson added 10 kills. Dobmeier had a double-double with 28 assists and 10 digs.
Arizona State finishes the tournament with a 2-1 record, winning the first two matches yesterday against NAU and Gonzaga before dropping today's game.
"We're hungry to win, 100 percent," Peterson said. "I can see it in all of our faces, and we're close It's going to take time, but that drive, that swing, it's going to keep coming. It took a lot but I think I think today gave us some reassurance that we can win and we can be successful."
The Sun Devils start up conference play next week with a rivalry matchup at Arizona on Thursday, starting at 7 p.m. MST. The game will be the first of a four-game road trip for ASU.