Volleyball tops Southern Miss
Danica Mendivil propelled the ASU volleyball to a 3-1 victory against Southern Miss to close out the Iowa State Challenge Sept. 3.
Southern Miss fell victim to the Sun Devils 3-1, going down 25-14, 12-25, 25-21, 25-17. ASU (3-3) was able to keep the Golden Eagles (3-3) offense to a .097 attack percentage during the match.
Mendivil posted a season-high 17 kills to lead both squads in the category, good enough for a .302 attack percentage on the day and to earn All-Tournament Team honors. Erica Wilson added 11 to her name and Ashley Kastl pitched in nine kills as well to give her a team-best 72 overall.
Set one saw A-State to its swiftest start of the season as the squad went up 9-4 and wasted no time to build a cushion at the 18-9 mark. From there USM errors and attacks from Mendivil closed it out at 25-14.
Southern Miss struck back in the second, claiming the frame 25-12. ASU was only able to chalk six kills and trailed the entire set after the 3-2 point.
Arizona State locked back into the match in the third set, tallying 16 kills and consistently keeping itself into the game. Six ties and four lead changes were not enough to deter ASU from coming out on top 25-21 with help from late kills by Mendivil, Kastl and a service ace by Caitlyn Murphy to finish it off.
In full stride, ASU kept its groove in the final frame - never allowing USM within three points after the 11-9 mark. Stephanie Preach then sparked the final five-point run with an ace at 21-16. Wilson threw down two kills followed by Mendivil clinching the Sun Devil victory with the final kill of the day to take the set 25-17.
ASU is back on the road Sept. 9-10 at the Carolina Classic hosted by North Carolina. Play opens at 11:30 a.m., Friday against Georgia Southern. ASU will then face San Diego at 7 a.m., followed by host UNC at 4:30 p.m. All times Pacific.