The Blaze

FINAL: ASU UPSETS THE NO. 5 TROJANS 3-1

By Greg Dillard

After picking up its first conference win last weekend against Oregon State, the ASU volleyball team returns to Wells Fargo arena tonight. The Sun Devils (6-11, 1-4 Pac-10) face the daunting task of hosting No. 5 Southern California.

The Trojans (14-2, 3-2) come to Tempe as one of the hottest teams in the nation. USC took down No. 6 California in last week’s Pac-10 action.

If the Sun Devils want to pull off a shocking upset, they will need to duplicate some of the “team play” they displayed in Corvallis, Ore.

“The very beginning, we just didn’t come out to play,” junior setter Cat Highmark said.  “After our meeting during halftime, we just put it together. We played together, no one got frustrated with each other. If we made a mistake we just brushed it off.”

ASU coach Jason Watson on the Sun Devil attack against USC.

“Lets see if we can touch something, let’s see if we can slow it down, let’s see if we can work real hard in trans to try and convert those opportunities into points rather than direct points because of just how physical they are.”

It’s PINK out night here at Wells Fargo Arena, as the Sun Devils donned the pink warmups, and are rocking the pink hair ties throughout tonight’s match in support of breast cancer awareness.

Sun Devil Starting Lineup:

• Sonja Markanovich
• Cat Highmark
• Stephanie Preach
• Erica Wilson
• Sarah Johnson
• Sarah Reaves
• Danica Mendivil

1st set: The Trojans and Sun Devils are underway here in Tempe. ASU trails 2-3 so far, Highmark to serve.

Malia Marquardt and Markanovich look great at the net so far. They’ve blocked several Trojan attacks. ASU holds a narrow 7-6 lead.

It looks as if these are the same Sun Devils that competed well against then No. 1 Stanford. ASU is excited, energetic, and playing good volleyball.

USC coach Mick Haley calls the timeout as ASU leads 17-14.

After ASU inched ahead at 20-18, USC made a small comeback to not only tie, but take a one point lead. ASU trails 22-23, Watson calls a TIMEOUT!

USC serves it out of bounds we are tied at 24-24, Reaves serves for ASU.

Markanovich again for the Sun Devils, 25-24 ASU.     Trojan TIMEOUT!

After a delay due to a disputed call, ASU captured the set win 29-27 and now lead 1-0.

2nd set: ASU picked up where it left off to start the second set. However, the Trojans countered with a resilient attack of their own to grab a small lead.

ASU TIES it at 8-8, Preach to serve!

Sarah Reaves tie it at 11-11 with her kill. Wilson back to serve for ASU

USC is pulling away with this one, 16-13 over ASU. Watson calls TIMEOUT!

Highmark sets for Mendivil who ties it at 18-18.

Sonja Markanovich gives ASU a 20-19 lead with her dominating kill.

After USC’s Alex Jupiter ties it at 20, Markanovich strikes again , ASU 21-20

USC is holding tough once again, Trojans tie the match at 22-22. Each team exchanges points to sit at a 23-23 tie.

The Sun Devils now hold a 2-0 lead over No. 5 USC at the intermission. ASU won the 2nd set 25-23 to take the 2-0 lead.

3rd set: This set is a back and forth battle similar to the first two. ASU leads 5-4

Erica Wilson makes it 9-5 ASU. Haley  calls a USC timeout! The Trojans look sluggish and not into this game. Could they have taken ASU for granted?

USC won’t give in that’s for sure. They knot the score at 10.

The Trojans inch ahead at 11-10, ASU’s Watson calls the timeout

ASU grabs the point on USC’s error. Marquardt back into the game for ASU. Highmark to serve.

The Trojans are finally clicking a little bit on the court, they lead 18-14. Let’s GO DEVILS cheer breaking out in Wells Fargo Arena.

ASU timeout down 14-20. Trojans tack on another to make it 14-21

Sun Devils lose the 3rd set 14-25, but still lead 2-1 over USC. Let’s seee what adjustments ASU can make to get back to its winning ways. Too good of an opportunity to blow here against USC.

4th set: Sun Devils seeking to put USC away, don’t want to go to a 15 point shootout in a 5th set.

In another close battle, it’s tied 6-6.

Preach serves it into the net for ASU to give USC a gift of a point and a 7-8 lead.

Watson calls a timeout for ASU and now trailing 7-11

ASU has surged from behind to take a 14-12 lead, USC calls the timeout in frustration.

The Sun Devils have grabbed the momentum from USC, but can they run with it? We shall see

Point Sun Devils!!! ASU 18-14

Highmark with a gorgeous set for Mendivil who takes care of business with a nasty kill. ASU now leads 21-16.

USC not folding here, they respond with some points to draw within one 21-20 ASU

Wells Fargo Arena going crazy with excitement as ASU leads 24-23 over the Trojans. Watson calls timeout

Everyone on their feet  cheerign ASU ASU ASU with USC’s Natalie Hagglund back to  serve. ASU took the serve and respond with a kill to seal the deal and win 25-23 in the 4th set and take the match 3-1!

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 16th, 2010 at 1:47 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.