The No. 16 ASU volleyball team continued its slide Sunday afternoon, falling in three sets, 21-25, 22-25, 16-25, to No. 6 Washington in Seattle, Wash.
The Sun Devils have now lost four of their last five matches, including three straight.
The Huskies (13-1, 5-1 Pac-12) abided by the game plan and served to ASU sophomore outside hitter Macey Gardner all evening. Although ASU kept the ball in play (UW only totaled three aces), the Huskies repeatedly forced ASU to work out of system, causing poor sets from sophomore setter Bianca Arellano.
The Sun Devils failed to communicate with each other several times, which only made getting back into the system more difficult.
ASU coach Jason Watson could not be reached for comment after the loss.
ASU (13-5, 2-4 Pac-12) trailed by as much as seven points in the first set, battling back to come within two points on two separate occasions. UW failed to ace the Sun Devils in the first set but still took the frame 25-21.
Behind 6-9 in the second set, ASU went on a 7-0 run to take a three-point lead. ASU continued passing well but succumbed to Washington’s services midway through the set. The Huskies aced Gardner for the 25-22 set victory.
ASU started slow in each of the first three sets, and the third was no exception. The Huskies went up 10-2 and kept the gas pedal pressed for the entirety of the set, winning 25-16.
Washington showcased its versatile offense as three outside hitters racked up ten or more kills. ASU looked to Gardner for the majority of its offense, but the sophomore hit just .082 because of nine hitting errors.
The Husky defense forced 18 attack errors and limited the Sun Devils to just a .169 hitting percentage.
Despite receiving the serve well, ASU wasn’t as hot from its own service line. The Sun Devils recorded zero aces and several service errors.
Freshman outside hitters BreElle Bailey and Kizzy Willey supplemented Gardner’s efforts, combining for 15 kills.
On Friday, ASU hosts the undefeated and top-ranked USC Trojans in Tempe.
Reach the reporter at bmargiot@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @BenMargiott.
