STANFORD, Calif. -- Battling its highest-ranked opponent of the season, Arizona State volleyball took second-ranked Stanford to four sets on Friday night in Maples Pavilion. The Sun Devils couldn't keep up with the Cardinal, though, falling 3-1 in set scores of 15-25, 25-19, 16-25, 20-25.
Holding its own in the opening points, Arizona State tied it four times before Stanford worked a run into a three-point advantage at 7-10. Following a Sun Devil timeout at 8-12, Erica Wilson threw down back-to-back kills to keep it close. The Cardinal kept a steady cushion through the bulk of the frame, leading 14-20, as Whitney Follette logged her third kill for the final ASU point of the set before Stanford won it 15-25.
In the second set, the Sun Devils came out rejuvenated to take a quick 9-5 lead after a kill by Nora Tuioti-Mariner and a block assist the sophomore teamed up for with Alexis Pinson. Using a .455 attack percentage, Arizona State hurried the Cardinal into a second timeout at 13-8 following a trio of kills by Macey Gardner. Stanford evened it at 15-all on a six-point spurt but the Devils answered immediately with six of their own and behind three service aces by Follette, 21-15. Battling to stay in control, ASU finished if off 25-19 with a pair of kills by Gardner to even it at 1-1 heading into the locker room.
Both Gardner and Wilson had 10 kills each through two sets while ASU improved to hit .255 in the second without giving up its lead at any point to Stanford.
ASU came out with big swings in the third, 7-3, only to see Stanford to rally a tie at 10-all. Tuioti-Mariner was clutch in keeping the Sun Devils within one at 11-10 and 12-12, but ASU soon fell behind by seven, 12-19. Picking up three points, 15-19, halted Stanford’s scoring spree but only momentarily as the Cardinal nabbed the frame 16-25 to go up 2-1.
The fourth set featured the longest rallies of the match as both clubs were bidding to take control early on. Stanford got the jump on the Devils who still remained within reach at their first timeout, 5-9. Arizona State saw itself slowly running out of time as it trailed 15-19, but continuing to fight, ASU made it 19-21. Stanford held the edge for the set, 20-25, and the 3-1 match.
