The ASU volleyball team made its much-anticipated 2010 home debut over the weekend in the ASU Sheraton Classic.
The Sun Devils (2-4) started the weekend off with a Friday afternoon victory over Seattle but fell to San Diego State on Friday night and Utah State on Saturday to finish the event.
While there were several moments of great play on the court, inconsistency plagued the Sun Devils throughout their two losses.
“I think now and again there is this great play that is very exciting, maybe two or three of these great plays,” ASU coach Jason Watson said. “We need to be good for longer periods of time.”
With junior setter Cat Highmark and senior libero Sarah Johnson sidelined due to injury, several freshmen stepped in and played well for the Sun Devils.
“I’m proud of the freshmen, it’s not an easy environment,” Watson said. “It’s tough playing, and playing well for long periods of time. I’m really pleased with the work that they did.”
A year after competing on Phoenix Xavier Prep’s volleyball team, ASU freshman setter Stephanie Preach and Seattle freshman outside hitter Julia Bonadio met again on the court, this time on opposite sides of the net.
“It was so fun, it was weird though,” Preach said. “It was so good to see her and to see her play.”
The Sun Devils came out strong against Seattle (2-5) by winning the first two sets 25-19 and 25-21, but the Redhawks countered with a 25-16 third set win.
Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Kastl smacked eight kills to earn the 25-13 fourth set victory while Preach earned 45 assists in the match.
ASU moved on to face San Diego State in a premier Friday night matchup. The Sun Devils found themselves in an 0-2 hole after the first two sets, but exploded in the third set with a 25-15 win.
The Aztecs (5-1) then defeated ASU in the fourth set, 25-20, to earn the match victory.
In the final matchup of the weekend, ASU faced a dominant Utah State team.
The undefeated Aggies (6-0) handed the Sun Devils a 25-18, 25-22, 25-17 loss.
“I thought that we weren’t able to put enough pressure on them defensively,” Watson said. “They hit particularly well in game one, and that set the tone for everything.”
ASU senior outside hitter Sarah Reaves continues to solidify herself as one of the best players in Sun Devil volleyball history.
Reaves climbed into sixth-place on the ASU all-time kills record list, adding 13 kills against Utah State to jump to 1,382 in her career.
After this weekend’s performance, Watson and his Sun Devils are determined to overcome their inconsistent play.
“We are going to get in the gym,” Watson said. “We are going to watch film, we are going to try and identify these things where we just have to play volleyball, not great, but just good for longer stretches.”
Reach the reporter at gregory.dillard@asu.edu
