Sept. 16, 2005
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (www.TheSunDevils.com) -- Without the help of injured outside hitter Nicole Morton, the Arizona State University volleyball team dropped a four-game match to LSU Friday afternoon in the Nokia Sugar Bowl Classic. Game scores were 30-24, 23-30, 30-26, 30-16 in favor of the Tigers.
The Sun Devils had their season-high three-match win streak snapped to fall to 4-5 on the season. LSU, which received votes in this week's AVCA/CSTV national poll, improved to 9-1 on the season. ASU continues tournament play Sunday against Tulane.
Morton (Fallbrook, Calif.), ASU's leader with 3.21 kills per game, did not play due to spraining her ankle in Thursday's practice. Freshman outside hitter Margie Giordano (Glendale, Ariz.) recorded her fourth straight match with double-digits in kills, leading the Sun Devils with 16. She added 14 digs for her fourth double-double of the season.
Sophomore libero Sydney Donahue (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) anchored the defense with 24 digs, while Giordano, junior outside hitter Nina Reeves (Gilbert, Ariz.) and senior setter Giovana Melo (Ribeirao Preto, Brazil) also recorded double-digits in digs.. Sophomore middle blocker Staci Smith (Gresham, Ore.) led the Devils with five blocks.
The Tigers featured a balanced offensive attach that had five players record 10 or more kills. Jelena Mijatovic recorded a match-high 20 kills on a .311 hitting percentage and also had 13 digs.
--Sun Devil Volleyball--