Volleyball closes out opening weekend with a sweep over UC Riverside

August 29, 2009

The Sun Devil Volleyball Team wrapped their opening weekend with a 3-0 sweep over UC Riverside posting 25-21, 25-22 and 25-15 scores over the Highlanders to close out the weekend with a 2-1 overall record.<separator></separator>The first set saw sophomore <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/zwiesler_camri00.html"… Zwiesler</a> lead the attack over the Highlanders as she downed four kills in the set with <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/highmark_cat00.html">C… Highmark</a> guiding the team with eight assists as well as a kill and a block. ASU put up 11 kills overall en route to a 25-21 opening set win.<separator></separator>The second set saw the Sun Devils really start to click as they put up 14 kills led by <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/schlagintweit_sofie00… Schlagintweit</a> and <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/marquardt_malia00.html… Marquardt</a> who both had three apiece. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/highmark_cat00.html">C… Highmark</a> again highlighted the stats with 12 assists a kill and an ace as the Sun Devils took off with a 25-22 win to put an iron grip on the lead headed into the break.<separator></separator>Three sets were all the Sun Devils needed though as their dominance continued with the defense stepping up for six blocks to stifle the Highlanders offense. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/marquardt_malia00.html… Marquardt</a> collected four blocks and three kills in the set as <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/mtt/mittelstaedt_paige00.h… Mittelstaedt</a> came in to support the effort with three blocks and two kills of her own as ASU completed the sweep with a 25-15 win to wrap up the match.<separator></separator>Summing up the weekend, Coach Watson said, “I thought it was easy for us to get fatigued. We had a fast turn around into the next match. Riverside is a good program but stayed on task and really showed some positives. We still have a ways to go, but we show promise and are already showing results. Overall we’re fairly pleased with this weekend’s results.” The Sun Devils now return home to host the ASU Sheraton Classic next weekend where they’ll face Charleston Southern, UTEP and Idaho State. The Sun Devils first face Charleston Southern Friday at noon in Wells Fargo Arena.