Freshman outside hitter Macey Gardner attempts to hit the ball past two UC Riverside blockers during the Sun Devils’ 3-1 win over the Highlanders on Sept. 14. (Photo by Kyle Newman)Needing a signature win to add to its résumé, the ASU volleyball team got that much needed win Friday night in Tempe.
The Sun Devils (16-11, 5-9 Pac-12) picked up a huge victory Friday when they upset No. 6 USC in the Wells Fargo Arena.
“We’re trending in a good direction at the right time of the year and we needed a signature win, and I think this is a nice win for us,” coach Jason Watson said.
Early on in the first set, it didn’t appear as though the Sun Devils would be competitive with the Trojans (22-4, 10-4 Pac-12), as errors put them in an early 10-5 hole. But small little runs helped ASU slowly climb back into the game.
After two USC errors tied the game up at 20-20, the Sun Devils took advantage of the opportunity, getting kills from freshman outside hitter Macey Gardner and junior middle blocker Alexis Pinson to close the set, 25-21.
ASU took the momentum from the first set and used it in the second set to build a huge nine-point lead at 21-12. Seven attack errors made by ASU helped fuel a USC comeback, and the Trojans eventually tied the game up at 23-23.
Back-to-back kills from Gardner and senior outside hitter Erica Wilson helped ASU hold off the Trojan rally, as the Sun Devils took the second set, 26-24.
The upset victory would not be easy to finish, as the Trojans refused to go down without a fight. The third set featured the most ties out of all the sets (8) and was a battle to the end.
With the Sun Devils holding a one-point lead at 24-23, Pinson closed out the set with a kill, completing the upset sweep over the No. 6 Trojans.
“It feels amazing,” Gardner said. “We went out here tonight, and we were ready for another home match and came out here and gave it our all, and we’re really excited.”
The last time the Sun Devils defeated a ranked opponent, ASU upended No. 2 Cal on the road 3-2 on Nov. 24, 2010.
Sun Devils falter against UCLA
ASU was unable to keep the momentum going against UCLA, as the Bruins (18-5, 10-4 Pac-12) dropped the Sun Devils 3-1 in a primetime game.
UCLA took the first two sets from ASU, 25-21 and 25-14, taking a 2-0 lead heading into the break.
ASU came out in the third set and battled its way to a 26-24 victory to stay alive.
The Bruins wouldn’t allow ASU back in it in the fourth game, taking the set 25-16 and the match from the Sun Devils.
Notes
Junior libero Stephanie Preach moved to No. 6 in school history in career digs with 1,296 after tallying 19 against USC. Preach recorded another 16 digs against UCLA Saturday night.
Gardner has moved into a tie for No. 9 in single-season kills (475) and a tie for first place for most single-season kills by a freshman (475) after recording 13 and 15 kills against USC and UCLA, respectively, this weekend.
Injury Update
Junior outside hitter Bethany Jorgensen suffered an apparent right arm injury and arrived to both games this weekend in a sling. Watson said Jorgensen will meet with team doctors Monday for an examination.
Reach the reporter at talopez3@asu.edu
