Volleyball looks to capitalize on good start

Column by Nick Prete, ASU News

The Sun Devil volleyball team is having one of it’s best starts since the 1997 season, and they’ve got three matches coming up this weekend where you can go cheer them on.

The team is currently 7-2 on the season and looking to improve on that solid record when they take on Villanova, UC Riverside, Florida Atlantic, and Gonzaga this Friday and Saturday.

After losing only five letter winners and three starters from last season, this year’s team has a handful of great talent at its disposal.

Macey Gardner and Erica Wilson not only were named to the all-tournament team for the Jayhawk Invitational, but these “Smash Sisters” are also dominating on the courts with 174 and 155 kills, respectively.

Then we’ve got Alexis Pinson beasting it up and blocking everything that tries to get over that net. She also played a pivotal role in the Devils’ 6-0 start on the year.

We’ve also got Allison Palmer, who already has three double-doubles this year. Nora Tuioti-Mariner, who was named to the PAC-12 All-Freshman Honorable Mention team one year ago, has played in all 36 sets thus far and is third on the squad in kills, with 74 and second in blocks, with 30.

That’s only five of the 17 exciting players on this year’s team.

It’s time to get behind this Sun Devil team, right now. With fan support they can turn this good start into a great season.

An added bonus for the fans that get to know this year’s team, there are only two seniors, so next season you’ll get to see almost all of them continue to get better and go farther!

So throw on some gold, head down to Wells Fargo Arena this weekend, and fill up those 10,734 seats to cheer on the Sun Devil volleyball team!

Friday:

noon vs. Villanova

8 p.m. vs. UC Riverside

Saturday:

2:30 p.m. vs. Florida Atlantic

8 p.m. vs. Gonzaga