Fifteen wins.

That was the goal going into the season for the ASU volleyball team.

Fifteen wins would mean a .500 overall record, and with a high strength of schedule rating by virtue of playing in the Pac-10, that .500 overall record would be enough to give ASU its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2006.

With a relatively easy non-conference schedule, it was not an impossible dream.

After getting off to an 11-2 start, the team’s best start since 1992, getting to 15 wins seemed like a probable outcome, as four more wins in a total of 17 remaining games was feasible.

Since defeating then-No. 14 UCLA for win No. 11, everything has gone downhill.

Six straight losses, including two heartbreaking collapses, have dropped the Sun Devils to 11-8 overall with a 1-6 conference record.

The team is currently in last place in the Pac-10, albeit only one game from ninth.

The final 11 games feature nine teams that are ranked in the top 25, and ASU has already lost to the two unranked teams.

The Sun Devils need to be a minimum of 4-7 to have a shot at the tournament, and with the strength of the conference, it’s difficult to find four wins on the remaining schedule.

Here at the midway point of conference play, it’s time to take a look at the what has gone right for ASU this season so far, and what the Sun Devils need to improve in order to make the tournament.

The Good

Sarah Reaves

After receiving all-conference honorable mentions each of her first two seasons, the junior outside hitter is in line to earn at least a second team all-conference selection.

Reaves is currently third in the conference and 13th in the country in points per set at 5.17 and is also third in the conference and 18th in the nation in kills per set at 4.39.

The points per set statistic essentially determines who the best offensive players in the country are, giving credence to the notion that Reaves is one of college volleyball’s standouts.

Paige Mittelstaedt

The senior middle blocker would be the favorite for the comeback player of the year award if there was one. Mittelstaedt missed almost all of last year with a stress fracture in her foot and had to learn a new position.

The former outside hitter was moved to middle blocker before the season, and she has been producing at a high level.

Mittelstaedt is fourth in the conference and 41st in the country in blocks per set at 1.25. She is also fourth in the conference in hitting percentage at .385 and has emerged as a secondary scoring option.

The defense

Despite poor performances against UA and Oregon over the last two weeks, the ASU defense is near the top in most categories.

The Sun Devils rank third in the conference in opponents hitting percentage and first in blocks per set. Additionally, the team is ranked seventh in the nation in blocks per set at 2.95.

Junior libero Sarah Johnson ranks seventh in the conference in digs per set and has emerged as a team leader.

Improvement needed

The offense

ASU ranks either last or close to last in team offensive categories in the Pac-10.

The Sun Devils are ninth in hitting percentage, 10th in assists per set and 10th in kills per set.

Part of the reason for the offensive struggles has been the inconsistency of the outside hitters opposite Reaves.

Four players have rotated in the position, and none have been able to hold down a starting spot, allowing defenses to key in on Reaves.

Finishing games

ASU is 2-3 in five-set matches this year, including twice blowing 2-1 leads in conference.

If ASU had closed out those two games, it would be 13-6 with a 3-4 conference record, needing only two victories to essentially secure a NCAA berth.

Instead, those two losses could be the difference as to whether the team makes the tournament.

The good news is that most of the losses have been close, indicating that if ASU makes some adjustments, some of the losses can be turned into wins quickly.

If the outside hitters opposite Reaves gain some consistency and the defense holds up, the team should be able to pull out some victories.

But if the offense continues in its current state, it is hard to see the Sun Devils getting to that 15-win mark.

Reach the reporter at kyle.glaser@asu.edu.