ASU coach Jason Watson knew before the season that he’d scheduled a competitive non-conference schedule for the ASU volleyball team, and so far it’s been nothing less.
It was a weekend loaded with competitive matches for the Sun Devils (4-5) during the ASU Sheraton Invitational.
ASU hosted the four-team tournament, and finished the weekend with two wins and a loss behind an all-around effort.
“I think we finally realized that we just have to come as team, and just play our hearts out like we do in practice and bring what we do in practice into the game,” junior setter Cat Highmark said.
The weekend featured individual accomplishment as well. Senior outside hitter Sarah Reaves continues to rise on the ASU volleyball record charts. After tallying 19 kills against High Point, Reaves moved into fifth place all time on the kills list.
Up first for the Sun Devils was a matchup against High Point. The Panthers (2-8) came into Arizona having lost five in a row.
It was a homecoming of sorts for several members of the Panther squad, which featured four players who call Arizona home.
The atmosphere was a difficult one for ASU as HPU brought a raucous crowd and high energy to Wells Fargo Arena. HPU got off to a hot start with four quick points and a 25-23 first set win.
HPU may have brought fans, but the Sun Devils reminded them it was their court. It took five sets, but the Sun Devils downed the Panthers 15-13 in the final set to earn the match victory.
While the Sun Devils found themselves in a hole early on, they persevered and were able to pull through for the win.
“We start these matches just a little bit too overanxious to get some things going,” Watson said. “When we calm down, we play nice volleyball for long periods of time.”
Friday night brought an intense match for the Sun Devils against Utah Valley. In another five set battle, ASU rallied from several deficits but took the loss 2-3.
On the brink of defeat, ASU won the fourth set 25-14 to force a decisive fifth set. The final round was another close one, with the Wolverines (5-5) pulling through in the end, 15-13.
“We definitely got a lot of good things out of that match,” sophomore outside hitter Ashley Kastl said. “We just have to take the positives out of it and run with those.”
ASU closed out the weekend with a crisp win over UC Riverside. The Sun Devils swept the Highlanders (1-8) in three sets, 25-21, 25-16, and 25-20.
Sophomore middle blocker Erica Wilson smashed nine kills and Reaves added 12 kills of her own to help ASU earn its first sweep of the season.
“I thought this morning’s match was this nice competitive effort throughout the court,” Watson said Saturday. “We were able to play steady volleyball for long periods of time. We talk about ending better than we start, I felt like we did that this weekend.”
Reach the reporter at gregory.dillard@asu.edu
