TEMPE, Ariz. – Led by an 18-kill performance from Nora Tuioti-Mariner and 17 more kills from Macey Gardner, the Arizona State volleyball team earned a weekend split by toppling Colorado 3-1 on Sunday.
The Sun Devils (18-13, 6-11 Pac-12) won in set scores of 20-25, 25-19, 25-7, 25-15. The Buffaloes fell to 14-16, 4-14 in the Pac-12.
The opening set 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, to Colorado’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.
Tuioti-Mariner posted a season-best 18 kills, hitting at a .464 clip.
The Sun Devils' 18 wins this season are the most for the program since 2000, when ASU advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
