Oct. 25, 2001
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State senior outside hitter Jami Coughlin tallied 13 kills and 16 digs and moved into second place in career digs in the ASU record books, but it wasn't enough, as the sixth-ranked UCLA Bruins defeated the Sun Devils 3-0 (30-26, 30-25, 30-24) in Pac-10 volleyball action Thursday night at Wells Fargo Arena.
The Bruins (11-4, 6-3 Pac-10), playing without senior All-American outside hitter Kristee Porter who has been suspended for possible violations of NCAA rules, extended their winning streak against the Sun Devils to 12 matches. ASU has not beaten UCLA since a season-sweep back in 1995. Arizona State drops to 7-11 overall and 2-8 in Pac-10 play. The Sun Devils are now 0-6 this year vs. ranked opponents.
"Without Porter, they are definitely a different team, and I really thought we had a chance to pull this one out," said ASU head coach Patti Snyder-Park. "We came out playing well in each game, but when we got to around 20, we kind of let down and they were just too tough down the stretch. (Ashley) Bowles and (Lauren) Fendrick both had great matches. We played more aggressive tonight and were a tougher challenge than when we played them in Los Angeles, but we just couldn't put the ball away when we needed to."
UCLA earned the victory behind solid performances from senior outside hitter Ashley Bowles (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and junior outside hitter Lauren Fendrick (Carlsbad, Calif.). Fendrick tallied a match-best 18 kills and added 11 digs. Bowles added 17 kills and 14 digs. Senior setter Erika Selsor, who recently became the most prolific setter in Pac-10 history, led all players with 47 assists and contributed 11 digs.
Playing in her 100th career match as a Sun Devil, Coughlin (Glendale) notched her 13th double-double of the year and her 15th match with 10 or more kills. Of Coughlin's 100 career matches, she has recorded a double-double (kills-digs) in 55 of them. With her match-best 16 digs, Coughlin ran her career total to 1,392, moving into second place in the ASU record books past former Devil Terri Cox (1994-97).
Mehlhorn (Tempe) continued her solid play as of late, notching her seventh consecutive match with 10 or more kills. Totaling 13 kills and 16 digs vs. the Bruins, Mehlhorn recorded her ninth double-double of the year. Over her last seven matches, Mehlhorn is averaging 3.83 kills per game and 3.23 digs per game.
The Devils held tough in the first game behind Coughlin's six kills and eight digs, but fell just short losing the opening frame 30-26. Mehlhorn also opened the match with a hot hand, posting six of her eventual xx kills. The Bruins were even hotter though, hitting .295 in the first game. Hard-hitting Bowles and Fendrick both tallied six kills apiece.
Game two was another hard-fought battle, but the Bruins played tough down the stretch to pull out the 30-25 win to go up 2-0 in the match. Hitting a scorching .340 in the second frame, the Bruins were led by seven kills each from Bowles and Fendrick, with Heather Cullen adding six from her middle blocker position. ASU was led by five kills each from Mehlhorn and Coughlin. Like the previous two games, ASU played the nationally-ranked Bruins tough, but couldn't pull out the game. Pulling as close as 20-19, Bowles and Fendrick proved to be the difference down the stretch.
The Devils are back in action tomorrow night against third-ranked USC (14-2, 8-1 Pac-10). The Women of Troy are coming off its first Pac-10 defeat of the season, falling Thursday night to the Arizona Wildcats 3-0 (25-30, 15-30, 28-30). The loss snapped a 13-match winning streak.
--Sun Devil Volleyball--