Volleyball topples Colorado, 3-1
Led by an 18-kill performance from Nora Tuioti-Mariner and 17 from Macey Gardner, Arizona State volleyball split its weekend after toppling Colorado 3-1 on Sunday.
The Sun Devils picked up their 18th win of the season (18-13, 6-11 Pac-12) with set scores of 20-25, 25-19, 25-7, 25-15. Colorado falls to 14-16, 4-14 in the Pac-12.
Set one was a battle as the lead changed five times, with 12 ties by 16-16 before the Sun Devils called a timeout at 16-19 when Colorado gained the first lead larger than two points. From there the Buffaloes kept the advantage for the set, 20-25, despite ASU's late rally.
Arizona State had a 5-2 lead in the second after Nora Tuioti-Mariner swung for three kills, capped by a block assist from Whitney Follette and Macey Gardner. Colorado then went on a scoring rampage to tally five-straight and take the lead, 5-7. ASU's game changer came at 10-10 when another streak ensued, led by Tuioti-Mariner. Outscoring CU 11-6 on the run, ASU was hitting .205 by the 22-17 mark, toColorado's .027. ASU tied the match at 1-1 after closing the frame, 25-19.
Opening with its biggest lead of the night, ASU built a 7-0 cushion to start the third behind the serve of Stephanie Preach, who also recorded a pair of service aces in that span. The Sun Devil offense then blew past Colorado, hitting .321 on 12 kills to notch a 25-7 win, the largest margin of victory in a set this season.
Using the momentum from the third set, the Sun Devils were on top 7-5 after Tuioti-Mariner and Follette paced the Maroon and Gold after the break. Tuioti-Mariner then teamed up with Gardner at 11-10 to bust open the ASU lead to 19-12 when Colorado called its first timeout of the frame. Arizona State finished strong, 25-15, to take the match 3-1.
Notes
Nora Tuioti-Mariner posted a season best 18 kills, hitting at a .464 clip.
Erica Wilson now ranks 12th all-time in kills with 1082.
Alexis Pinson is now 10th in single-season block assists with 104.
Macey Gardner is now third in single-season kills with 529. Her season tally bumped Olympic medalist and NCAA All-American Tammy Webb. Ahead of the freshman is Mindy Gowell (2nd, 555 kills) and leader Amanda Burbridge (1st, 599 kills, All-American in 2000).
Stephanie Preach is now seventh in single-season digs with 552 and is four shy of sixth. In career digs she is fifth with 1393.
The third-set victory of 25-7 is the largest margin of victory in a set for the year. Previously was 25-9, recorded three times - twice against Villanova (Sept. 14) and once against Colgate (Aug. 31).
ASU's 18 wins this season is the most victories for the program since 2000. The 2000 squad, under then coach Patti Snyder-Park, finished the season 18-12, 9-9 in Pac-12 and went to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Up Next
The Sun Devils close out the regular season with a match at Washington on Wednesday at 9 p.m. MT and then hostArizona on Friday, Nov. 23 at 6 p.m. MT, in a triple feature of Gold Friday, Territorial Cup Series and Senior Night. Make sure to wear your gold to gold-out Black Friday!