Nov. 22, 2011
TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona State University volleyball team opened up its first of back-to-back games against rival University of Arizona with a loss to the Wildcats in four sets (25-21, 25-12, 23-25, 25-13) on Tuesday night at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz.
With half a point in the State Farm Territorial Cup on the line, Nora Tuioti-Mariner scored 10 kills for the Sun Devils but it wasn’t enough as 27 total errors and a .073 overall hitting percentage would come back to haunt the Sun Devils down the stretch.
Junior Ashley Kastl had five kills in the first set, one of which capping a 3-0 run that tied the set at 18 and forced the Wildcats into a timeout. Arizona closed on a 7-3 run, however, as Arizona State managed just a .121 hitting percentage on the set, falling 25-21.
The second set was all Arizona as the Sun Devils could never settle into a groove, posted five errors to just six kills. Arizona State hit just .037 from the court during the set as they fell 25-12.
ASU came out swinging in the third set, matching their total kills after the first two sets with 16 in the third. Tuioti-Mariner led the way with six kills while junior Sarah Clause played in just her tenth set of the year and added three valuable kills of her own. Leading 24-23 and with their first set point of the day, ASU withstood a fantastic rally that went back-and-forth well over 10 times to take the point and the set, 25-23.
The fourth and final set was another UA affair as the Wildcats led from start to finish en route a 25-13 set victory to take the match.
Seniors Courtney Karst and Cursty Jackson capped off home careers at McKale Center with 18 and 17 kills, respectively while freshman Madison Kingdon led the way with 20 kills. Arizona tallied 62 overall kills to just 38 for Arizona State.
The Sun Devils will return home for their own Senior Night on Saturday, Nov. 26, at Wells Fargo Arena at 7 p.m. for the second consecutive game against the Wildcats and with the other half of the State Farm Territorial Cup point to be decided.