The ASU women’s volleyball team was unable to continue its winning streak as it faltered in Kansas over the weekend.
After getting off to a fast 6-0 start this season, the Sun Devils suffered their first two losses of the season in their first two games of the Jayhawk Invitational. They dropped matches to Wyoming and host-Kansas before bouncing back and sweeping the College of Charleston in the final game of the tournament.
Wyoming breaks ASU’s winning streak
On Friday morning, ASU squared off against at the once undefeated Wyoming (9-2) with a chance to move to 7-0 on the season. After the Sun Devils dropped the first set to the Cowgirls 23-25, they went on to win the next two sets comfortably by the same score of 25-18. The fourth set was a close battle between both teams but saw Wyoming come out on top 26-24.
With momentum on their side, Wyoming closed out ASU 15-11 in the final set to give the Sun Devils their first loss of the season.
Despite the loss, freshman outside hitter Macey Gardner and freshman setter Allison Palmer each recorded a double-double, it was respectively their fourth and third double-double of the season.
KU hands ASU second loss
ASU had a chance to rebound from its loss quickly with a game later that night against Kansas (9-1). The Sun Devils performed strong in the first set as they took it by the score of 25-20. But the Jayhawks came back strong and won the next two sets 25-19 and 26-24.
Down 2-1 in the fourth set, ASU battled hard with Kansas as they tied 15 times and exchanged the lead eight times.
But it was the Jayhawks who came out on top and took the set 25-23 and match 3-1, causing the Sun Devils to suffer their first back-to-back losses of the season.
ASU’s kill average for the game was a mere .196, which was only the second time this year that the Sun Devils have had an average below .200 for a game.
Sun Devils avoid shutout
With a chance of being swept by the competition on the line, ASU took the floor in its final game on Saturday morning against the College of Charleston (4-4).
The Sun Devils came out and dominated the first two sets as if though they were sending a message. After winning the first set comfortably 25-17, they turned it up a notch in the second set, rolling through the Cougars by a score of 25-12.
The third set was more difficult battle for the two teams as they tied five times compared to only two times in the first two sets combined.
But an ace by junior middle blocker Alexis Pinson finished off the set, match, and tournament for the Sun Devils.
The sweep of COC helped the Sun Devils avoid a 3-game losing streak and pushed their record to 7-2 on the year.
“I thought it was one of those matches where, ‘Are we going to bounce back? Or let the disappointment (from) Friday carry over to Saturday?’” coach Jason Watson said. “It was a nice match and I was real proud of the way they responded.”
Senior outside hitter Erica Wilson and Gardner were both named to the Jayhawk Invitational All-Tournament Team, and picked up their second and third tournament honor of the season, respectively.
The Sun Devils now return home to prepare for their own tournament this weekend, the ASU Sheraton Invitational.
Reach the reporter at talopez3@asu.edu
