LOS ANGELES -- The Arizona State volleyball team lost to eighth-ranked Southern California in three sets Sunday by scores of 25-15, 25-15, 25-21.
Whitney Follette posted a team-best six kills in the contest for the Sun Devils.
Three USC players posted double-digit numbers in the victory, with Elise Ruddins posting a team-best of 14 kills along with a .462 hitting percentage.
In the first set, the Sun Devils (18-12, 7-11) were able to keep up with the Trojans before multiple scoring runs swung the momentum in USC’s favor. Senior Bethany Jorgenson knocked down her first of four kills of the match to get ASU into double digits. A kill and service ace from Follette closed the gap, 22-13, before the Trojans put away the set, 25-15.
The second set would play out similar to the commencing frame, with USC jumping out to quick 7-1 lead following a 7-0 run. ASU would pull within three following a kill from Mercedes Binns in the middle, but the USC remained un-phased and cruised to the second set victory.
Coming out of the break, ASU would control the third set in the early moments, pulling ahead 3-1 following multiple errors by USC. Tied at four all, the Trojans would take the lead with a small scoring run before the Sun Devils battled back, including multiple blocks from Macey Gardner, who ended the day with three. Tied at 12, ASU and USC would take turns knocking down kills before the Sun Devils pulled ahead to take the lead, 19-18, before USC gained momentum and closed the match on a 3-1 run.
