(Los Angeles, CA) No. 15 Sun Devil Volleyball fell in straight sets at USC (25-23, 25-23, 25-16) on Sunday afternoon to wrap up the weekend.
Notable Stats
Arizona State (22-4, 10-4 Pac-12) played USC (16-8, 10-4 Pac-12) close in the first two sets, losing by two in each, but the third set got away. The Trojans hit .358 to the Sun Devils’ .211.
ASU splits the season series with USC after the Sun Devils won in five sets in Tempe a month ago.
Senior opposite Marta Levinska led ASU in kills with 21 on a blistering .405 clip. This was her fifth match of the year with 20 or more kills, 13th in her career.
On defense, graduate libero Mary Shroll led all players with 19 digs, which matches her season high. Junior outside hitter Geli Cyr was not far behind with 15 digs.
Graduate setter Shannon Shields had 31 assists, six digs, three kills and two aces in the match for a balanced stat line.
Set One: USC 25, ASU 23
The Sun Devils started off strong, scoring four in a row to go up 4-1, thanks to an ace from Jillian Neal. However, the Trojans scored seven-straight points to take the 10-7 lead, forcing an early timeout from the visitors. From there, it was back and forth, ASU not able to get past that three-point deficit. However, after a huge dig from Shields set up a kill from Levinska, Arizona State got within two, 24-22, bringing a USC timeout. Another kill from Levinska held off a third set point and made the Trojans call their second timeout in as many points. A serve error gave it to USC, 25-23.
Set Two: USC 25, ASU 23
The second set was a battle from the start, neither team able to pull away. Back-to-back rocket kills from Shields and Roberta Rabelo put ASU up by four, 10-6. However, USC responded with three in a row to get within one. The Trojans later went on a 4-1 run to tie it up at 14-14 before the back and forth continued. The home team continued to put the pressure on, going on a 5-1 run to take the 19-17 lead and force an ASU timeout. After letting the deficit get to four, the Sun Devils’ tough play forced two-straight Trojan errors to make it 22-20, bringing a timeout from the home team. Shields dropped in an ace to get within one, 22-21. Kills from Levinska tied it up at 23-23, but Skylar Fields and USC scored two in a row to take it 25-23.
Set Three: USC 25, ASU 16
Arizona State struggled out of the gate in the third frame, allowing USC to open with six-straight points and forcing an early ASU timeout. The Trojans’ lead jumped up to 18-7 after five in a row. The Sun Devils put together three in a row, capped off by an ace from Estella Zatechka to make it 19-11. After a USC 3-0 run, ASU put together four in a row to make it 22-15. But the damage had been done, and the Trojans would complete the sweep.
Up Next
Arizona State will be home for the next two weekends. First up, ASU will host Colorado on Thursday in Mullett Arena before Utah comes to Desert Financial Arena on Saturday.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Kimberlie Haner
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