Oregon State
Arizona St
Volleyball Swept At Arizona State
September 17, 1999 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 17, 1999
TEMPE, Ariz. - Gina Schmidt hit .484 with a match-high 17 kills, but it wasn't enough as the Oregon State volleyball team was swept by Arizona State Friday night. Game scores were 15-12, 15-13 and 15-9.
"We're fighting out there," said coach Nancy Somera. "It's just taking care of the ball a little better on our side of the court."
ASU (6-2, 2-0) jumped out to a 10-3 lead in game one, but the Beavers fought hard and kept themselves into the game. OSU (5-4, 0-2) got within two points on four different occasions, including 13-11 and 14-12, but it could not get any closer.
The Beavers let a 9-1 lead slip away in the second game as the Sun Devils slowly got back into the contest. The Sun Devils made it a two-point game at 11-9, but OSU held off the comeback with a sideout on a kill from Sarah Bjeldanes. OSU scored twice on a kill from Schmidt and a block by Schmidt and Michele Solomon to make it 13-9. However, the Beavers had six hitting errors the rest of the game, and the Sun Devils capitalized on OSU's mistakes. ASU scored five points off OSU hitting errors and another on a service ace to secure the win.
"I hate to see a 9-1 lead go to waste, but this conference is unforgiving," Somera said. "OSU has got to learn to put teams away. When you're up 9-1, you've got to win the game. When you're up 2-0, you've got to win the match."
ASU's momentum continued into the third game, when the Sun Devils opened with a 4-0 advantage. Then, with the score at 8-4 in favor of ASU, Bjeldanes slammed down a kill for an OSU sideout, and the Beavers got within a point by scoring twice off ASU errors and once off a Schmidt kill. But ASU had its best offensive game of the match, hitting .302 as a team to put the match in the books.
The Sun Devils hit .223 on the night and outkilled OSU 61-57. ASU also outdug the Beavers, 55-47, but OSU held the blocking advantage 16-11.
"ASU's defense was unbelievable tonight," Somera said. "But, I am excited about how our defense stepped up and matched them dig for dig. We were just a few digs behind them."
Jessica Papell led OSU with 12 digs, and Schmidt added 10. Bjeldanes just missed a double-double with 15 kills and nine digs, and Angie Shirley had 11 kills for OSU.
ASU's Amanda Burbridge led the Sun Devils with 17 kills, and Ashley Hubbard and Jami Coughlin each had 15 digs.
OSU returns to action Tuesday, September 21 with a 7 p.m. match against Portland at Gill Coliseum.
Match Results
Oregon State 12 13 9 Arizona State 15 15 15
