Junior middle blocker Andi Lowrance attacks the ball in an exhibition match against Mount Royal University on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014, at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe. The Sun Devils would go on to win the exhibition, 3-0. (Photo by Ben Moffat)When junior middle blocker Whitney Follette went down injured, the ASU women's volleyball team suddenly had more questions to answer.
Who was going to step up? How would the lineup and play style change?
Junior Andi Lowrance stepped in as the starting middle blocker and answered those questions and more. Since Sept. 20 against Pepperdine, Lowrance has impressed despite limited chances to attack.
“You don’t see that many opportunities to score points, but the opportunities she does get she scores,” head coach Jason Watson said on Sept. 30.
At the time, she had hit 37 percent as a starter. Her season percentage has deflated to 33.3 percent since, but that still marks the second-highest of the predominant attackers on the team (middle blockers and outside hitters). The only player with more is Follette, who rests at 33.6 percent.
Lowrance also has 19 total blocks in her time as a starter. This ranks second on the team during the span, trailing only senior middle blocker Mercedes Binns, who has 22 total blocks.
“(Lowrance) has come in and has played well and has helped us and will continue to do it,” Watson said. “I’m pretty impressed with the work that she’s doing.”
Establishing a defensive identity
Watson has spoken throughout the season about his attempts to establish a defensive identity through toughness and stamina. On Sept. 30, he directly addressed the progress.
“In terms of where we were two weeks ago, we’re much, much better,” he said at the time. “We’re not just making one move, we’re making two moves at the ball… we may not always get it, but at least we’re making that effort. If we keep making some good effort, then in two weeks we’re going to see a much better defensive team.”
Two weeks earlier, ASU had lost 3-0 to Louisville. In that game, the only ASU player with double-digit blocks was freshman libero Halle Harker, who had 16. The rest of the team had eight.
The team has improved statistically since then. In two games since the start of October, four players have recorded double-digit digs. Sophomore outside hitter Kizzy Willey is becoming a constant on the court, recording at least 12 digs in five of her last six matches.
The team has amassed six solo blocks and 32 assisted blocks in those two contests.
“I like where we’re heading,” Watson said a week ago.
Season comparisons
So far, this season is nearly identical to the 2013 ASU season. ASU started on a tear last year, beginning 11-1 before entering Pac-12 play. This year, the Sun Devils began Pac-12 play at 10-2.
The Pac-12 is where ASU began to struggle. In 2013, they began 2-1 before losing seven consecutive matches. This year, ASU began 2-1; it lost last night to Utah. The team will try to steady the ship and rectify their mistakes come next week’s matches.
The first match is against unranked Cal. The second is against No. 1 Stanford. Watson doesn’t take the rankings into much consideration, though.
“All I know is that in this conference, if they’re ranked or not is irrelevant,” he said last week. “They’re really, really talented.”
Reach the reporter at logan.newman@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @Logan_Newsman
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