Sept. 2, 2001
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The 2001 Arizona State Sun Devil volleyball squad picked up its first win of the season Saturday with a 3-1 win over Hofstra on the second and final day of the 12th Annual Phoenix Airport Hilton/Sun Devil Challenge. The Devils nearly upset No. 23 South Carolina in the tournament finale, taking an early 2-0 lead, but dropped three consecutive games to fall to the Gamecocks. ASU is now 1-3 on the season, marking the first time in school history the program has dropped three of its first four matches.
Junior middle blocker Julia Leddy (Mesa) had an outstanding match for the Devils, recording 14 kills and hitting .500 for the match (14-2-24). Senior outside hitter Jami Coughlin (Glendale) led all players with 20 kills and 20 digs to help lead ASU to the 30-25, 32-34, 30-12, 30-21 victory.
Freshman Alicia Akporiaye (Tucson) tallied a career high 12 kills against the Flying Dutchwomen and sophomore middle blocker Jodi Smith (St. Johns) recorded 10 kills. Sophomore setter Cheryl Anglin (Queen Creek) paced the Sun Devil offense with 51 assists.
In the tournament finale vs. No. 23 and undefeated South Carolina, ASU jumped out to a torrid start by taking the first two games, 30-20 and 30-25. The nationally ranked Gamecocks stormed back though, taking the next two games, 30-27 and 30-20, then capped off a 3-0 opening weekend with a 15-11 match-winner in the decisive game five. The Sun Devils were led by Coughlin's 20-kill, 16 dig effort and by Smith's career high 12 kills.
Leddy and Coughlin were both named to the all-tournament team after turning in great opening-weekend performances. Leddy hit .385 in the tournament, while averaging 3.17 kills per game and adding 12 total blocks. Coughlin averaged 4.17 kills per game over the four matches and also added 3.22 digs per game.
The Sun Devils (1-3) will travel to Los Angeles next weekend for the Loyola Marymount Volleyball Classic. ASU will open tournament play with New Mexico on Friday at 5 p.m., then take on Indiana at 10 a.m. on Saturday and the No. 24 LMU Lions at 7 p.m. to close out the tournament.