Tempe, Ariz. – The No. 22 Arizona State volleyball team fought from behind and defeated the visiting No. 17 UCLA Bruins in five sets, 21-25, 25-20, 16-25, 25-20, 16-14, on Wednesday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena.
Nine of ASU’s last 12 matches have gone to five sets, and with the win, ASU improves to 19-12 on the year and 9-10 in Pac-12 play. Wednesday’s loss drops UCLA to 19-11 this season and 10-9 in league action.
“I’m really proud of this team and their ability to just keep playing and playing,” head coach Jason Watson said. “I am really proud of everyone.”
This marks the 14th win over a ranked team in the Watson era, and the first time ASU has upended four ranked teams in the span of a single season.
Junior outside hitter Macey Gardner led the Sun Devils with 20 kills and 12 digs, while junior setter Bianca Arellano added 44 assists and 17 digs. Both players now have 19 double-doubles this season.
Gardner now has 545 kills this season, good for fourth all-time in ASU history for kills in a season. Arellano’s season assist total now stands at 1,306 , which is the sixth-most assists in a season in ASU history.
The Sun Devils were able to counter each set UCLA won with a win of their own, and trailed 13-10 in the fifth set before closing the match on a 6-1 run courtesy of the service and defensive performance of senior Shannan McCready. McCready’s career will be honored prior to Friday’s regular-season finale.
“I thought we put together one of our better game plans today,” Watson said. “I thought that today, we responded really well.”
Arizona State resumes play on Friday evening, when they host Pac-12 rival Arizona at 6 p.m. MT. The match will be aired on the Pac-12 Networks, with half of a Territorial Cup Series point up for grabs.
Match Notes:
Double-Digit Kills: Macey Gardner (20)*, Whitney Follette (10), Mercedes Binns (10)
*Gardner’s 13th match this season with 20 or more kills, all in Pac-12 play
Top Attack Percentage: Whitney Follette (.444; 10K, 2E, 18TA)
Double-Doubles: Macey Gardner (19 total; 20 kills, 12 digs), Bianca Arellano (19 total; 44 assists, 17 digs)
Top Blockers: Whitney Follette (1BS, 7BA), Bree Bailey (1BS, 4BA)
Notes vs. UCLA
-With ASU's win over USC on Sept. 26, this is the first time ASU swept both UCLA and USC in a season since 1995
-First time with wins over UCLA in back-to-back years since winning in 2009 and 2010
-First time beating a ranked UCLA since 2010
Season Notes
Top-25 Wins Under Watson (14)
Oct. 25, 2008 at No. 24 Oregon State*--W 3-0
Sept. 25, 2009 No. 14 UCLA*--W 3-0
Oct. 15, 2010 No. 5 USC*--W 3-1
Oct. 16, 2010 No. 10 UCLA*--W 3-1
Nov. 24, 2010 at No. 2 California*--W 3-2
Nov. 2, 2012 No. 6 USC*--W 3-0
Nov. 21, 2012 at No. 5 Washington*--W, 3-1
Aug. 31, 2013 No. 24 Wichita State--W 3-0
Sept. 13, 2013 No. 2 Texas--W 3-0
Nov. 1, 2013 No. 23 Oregon*--W 3-1
Aug. 30, 2014 No. 17 Hawaii--W 3-0
Sept. 26, 2014 No. 9 USC*--W 3-1
Oct. 24, 2014 No. 11 Oregon*--W 3-2
Nov. 26, 2014 No. 17 UCLA*--W 3-2
ASU Top-10 Career Kills
1. Christine Garner, 1992-95, 1871
2. Sarah Reeves, 2007-10, 1796
3. Tammy Webb, 1983-86, 1679
4. Macey Gardner, 2012-present, 1628
5. Amanda Burbridge, 1997-00, 1597
6. Christy Nore, 1985-88, 1517
7. Valentina Vega, 1982-83, 85-86, 1392
8. Jami Coughlin, 1998-01, 1360
9. Margie Giordano, 2005-08, 1312
10. Lisa Stuck, 1980-83, 1296
ASU Single-Season Top-10 Kills:
1. 599—Amanda Burbridge (2000)
2. 577—Macey Gardner (2012)
3. 555—Mindy Gowell (1990)
4. 545—Macey Gardner (2014)*
5. 523—Tammy Webb (1985)
6. 522—Erica Wilson (2012)
7. 506—Macey Gardner (2013)
8. 497—Christy Nore (1988)
9. 495—Christine Garner (1993)
10. 489—Tammy Webb (1986)
ASU Single-Season Top-10 Assists:
1. 1482—Alison Palmer (2012)
2. 1452—Cheryl Anglin (2000)
3. 1450—Regina Stahl (1985)
4. 1444—Noelle Fridrich (1988)
5. 1413—Reginal Stahl (1986)
6. 1306—Bianca Arellano (2014)
7. 1277—Marina Mercer (2007)
8. 1255—Regina Stahl (1987)
9. 1250—Jennifer Helfrich (1992)
10. 1228—Jolynn Faatulu (1998)
ASU Single-Season Top-10 Digs
1. 742--Sydney Donahue (2006** Pac-12 Record)
2. 640--Sydney Donahue (2007)
3. 628--Sydney Donahue (2005)
4. 619--Stephanie Preach (2012)
5. 610--Stephanie Preach (2011)
6. 601--Mindy Gowell (1990)
7. 556--Christy Nore (1988)
8. 550--Stephanie Preach (2013)
9. 538--Kelly Plaisted (1990)
10. 489--Sarah Johnson (2010)
Halle Harker (2014)—486
Attendance Note: Match attendance 1,100, marking 37 home matches with 1,000 or more fans since Coach Watson’s first season in 2008.