Nov. 5, 2004
TEMPE, Ariz. (www.TheSunDevils.com) -- Arizona State freshman middle blocker Colette Meek recorded 14 kills on a career-high .571 hitting percentage to lead the Sun Devils to a three-game sweep (30-23, 30-24, 30-22) over Oregon Friday night in Pac-10 volleyball action.
With the victory, the Sun Devils ended a season-high five-match losing streak to improve to 9-13 overall and 4-9 in Pac-10 play. With five matches remaining the season, ASU has already equaled its entire win total overall and in Pac-10 play from last season. Oregon suffered its 10th straight defeat to fall to 9-14 overall and 1-12 in conference play. The Devils have now won 14 straight matches over the Ducks dating back to 1997 and lead the all-time series 31-7.
Meek (Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada) was ASU's only player to record double-digits in kills. She also led the Sun Devils with three blocks to finish with a match-high 16.5 points. Sophomore Nina Reeves (Gilbert, Ariz.) and junior Sarah Watkins (Mishawaka, Ind.) each added eight kills.
Freshman libero Sydney Donahue (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) led all players with 19 digs and recorded 49 digs in the seven total games against Oregon State and Oregon (7.00 digs per game). Donahue also led the team with three service aces. Freshman setter Rachel Mittelstaedt (Phoenix, Ariz.) paced the ASU offense with 43 assists and added nine digs.
Oregon was led by a solid performance from junior outside hitter Kelly Russell. Russell recorded a double-double with 14 kills and 12 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Sarah Mason added 10 kills in the loss.
The Sun Devils came out of the gates slow, trailing 6-2 early in the opening frame. After second-year head coach Brad Saindon called a timeout, ASU went on a 15-6 run to take a convincing 17-12 lead. Watkins had four kills on a .375 hitting percentage en route to the 30-23 victory.
ASU also used a big run in the second game to take a 2-0 lead in the match. After battling through 10 tie scores, ASU went on a 10-4 run to gain a 20-14 lead en route to the 30-24 win. Meek wad dominant with seven kills on seven attacks in the frame. Freshman middle blocker Staci Smith (Gresham, Ore.) added three kills on a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage. As a team the Sun Devils hit .529 (20-2-34).
Oregon gained some momentum in the third game by taking a 17-14 lead, but ASU scored six unanswered points off the serve of Donahue. The Sun Devils closed out the match with another 8-2 run to gain the victory. Sophomore Nicole Morton (Bonsall, Calif.), Reeves and Meek each had four kills in the game.
Up next, the Sun Devils travel to the Pacific Northwest to face Washington State (Nov. 11, 7 p.m.) in Pullman and top-ranked Washington (Nov. 12, 7 p.m.) in Seattle. The match vs. Washington State will be televised nationally on a tape-delayed basis on Fox Sports Net.
--Sun Devil Volleyball--