The ASU women’s volleyball team (10-15) traveled up the California coast to take on No. 19 USC (17-7) Friday night, losing in four sets to the Trojans.
The Sun Devils' night started out rough with three attack errors and one ace given up to the Trojans, resulting in a 4-1 run to begin the match. The Sun Devils were able to gain momentum following the slump with a kill from junior opposite hitter Peyton Grahovac, which pushed the team to tie things up early in the set.
Despite the Trojans going on multiple runs throughout the period, the Devils were able to stay close, at one point going on a three-point run of their own with back-to-back kills from freshman outside hitter Griere Hughes.
While the team brought the deficit within reach late in the set, the Trojans would not allow them to get closer than three points. After a kill by senior middle blocker Jordan Dunn and an error by senior middle blocker Oluoma Okaro, USC senior opposite hitter Brittany Abercrombie sealed the set for the Trojans, 25-20.
The Sun Devils got out to a slow start once again in the second set, going zero for four to open the period. They were able to pull themselves out of the hole eventually, and following two attack errors by the Trojans and a kill by Hughes, the Sun Devils were able to tie things up midway through the set.
From there, the Devils were able to hold onto a lead throughout the rest of the set. With back-to-back kills from Grahovac and Okaro, they were able to fight back against the Trojans' runs.
The Trojans were able to pull within three towards the end of the period, but they were stopped shy after a service error by Abercrombie that pushed the Sun Devils to a 25-21 victory.
After the break, the Sun Devils used the momentum of the second set to get off to a better start, tying things up early in the third set. That momentum would be halted, however, after the Trojans went on a four-point run in which two of their points were given from Sun Devil errors.
The Sun Devils would not be able to go on a significant run to cut the deficit, and with every point they would score, the Trojans pulled away more. They were able to get three points late in the set with kills by freshman middle blocker Megan Beedie and Hughes, but their hopes were dashed after a kill by USC sophomore outside hitter Khalia Lanier, giving the Trojans a 25-19 victory.
In the fourth and final set, the Sun Devils were able to get off to a racing start following attack errors by the Trojans. The set went back and forth throughout the period with each team not going on a run long enough to maintain a substantial lead.
At one point, the Devils were able to take a two-point lead with a kill by Grahovac and an ace by Hughes, but the Trojans would respond by cutting into their lead. A kill by Okaro and error by Lanier pulled the Devils back within one late in the set, but the Trojans ultimately won the set 25-18.
Interim head coach Carlos Moreno spoke after the game.
“We battled, but we weren’t able to execute overtime," Moreno said. "We all know that we have the ability to compete at a high level in this conference, but we have to maintain that through the match and when it matters the most. We are going to move forward and continue to hold ourselves to a high standard."
The Sun Devils travel north on Saturday to continue their California road trip in hopes of defeating No. 13 UCLA. The match is set for 7 p.m.
Reach the reporter at klbroder@asu.edu or follow @KellyB1459 on Twitter.
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