The Blaze

By Greg Dillard

FINAL: ASU SWEEPS OSU 3-0

The ASU volleyball team returns to Wells Fargo Arena tonight to host Pac-10 rival Oregon State. The Sun Devils (10-13,4-6 Pac-10) are looking to make some noise  here in the final month of the regular season.

Of course this is the second meeting of the 2010 season between ASU and OSU. In Corvallis, the Beavers (8-17, 1-10) jumped out to a 2-0 lead before ASU caught fire and won three straight sets to capture the 3-2 match victory. That was ASU’s first conference win of the season, and was the first win of what turned into a four game conference winning streak.

Oregon State meanwhile has struggled in the ultra competitive Pac-10 conference. The Beavers are in the midst of a nine game losing streak and hold a 1-10 record in conference play this season.

OSU is lead by senior outside hitter Jill Sawatzky who has hammered 374 kills this season.

Sun Devil Starting Lineup:

• Sonja Markanovich
• Jenny Teslevich
• Stephanie Preach
• Cat Highmark
• Erica Wilson
• Sarah Johnson
• Sarah Reaves

First Set:It’s been back and forth early on, Highmark sets Wilson who slams the kill to tie it at 6-6

ASU leads 12-10, the OSU serving has been poor, but I’m sure the Devils will take the “gift” points.

OSU calls the timeout down 12-16, ASU looking pretty energetic so far.

Malia Marquardt’s block for the point makes it 21-17 ASU prompting another OSU timeout. The Beavers look flat so far.

OSU within two it’s 23-21 ASU,  Sun Devils unable to close out this first set, Watson then calls the timeout.

Beavers tie this one at 23-23, Watson calls yet another timeout in frustration.

It’s been a crazy first set, ASU leads 29-28, after Wilson’s serve, OSU hits it out of bounds to give ASU the point and 30-28 set win.  1-0 Sun Devils

2nd set: Sonja Markanovich with the block, 2-1 ASU early on.

OSU showing some life here, we’re tied 7-7. If not for some dumb mistakes on OSU’s part, the Beavers would have a several point lead.

Stephanie Preach with the service ACE to knot this at 9-9. Preach has a wicked jump serve, absolutely unloads on that ball.

The Beavers are letting ASU back into this set, now 13-14 OSU after a service error.

After Danica Mendivil’s kill gave ASU the 18-17 lead, OSU responded AGAIN to knot this score at 18.

Sarah Reaves with another kill to extend ASU’s lead to 21-19, Beavers call another timeout

The last ten minutes of this match turned into the Sarah Reaves show as her kill gives ASU the 25-19 second set win and 2-0 match lead heading into the break.

3rd set: ASU holds a slim 6-4 in the early stages of this 3rd set, Marquardt with a kill and a block so far.

Despite leading 2-0 in the match, ASU can’t expect the Beavers to fold.

Marquardt again for the kill, her two blocks and several kills this set have lead the way for the Devils. OSU calls a Timeout down 5-9

OSU clearly struggling in the 3rd set, down 9-16 coach Terry Liskevych calls the timeout. He has to be frustated with his team’s play this set after looking competitive the first two sets.

Beavers almost falling apart here, not communicating well, Liskevych has benched some of his struggling starters

ASU now leads 23-16

ASU SWEEEEEPPPPPS 3-0 over the Beavers!

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 6th, 2010 at 1:44 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.