(Photo: Matt Harden/WCSN)
It was the matchup that everyone looked forward to in the Sun Devil Invitational, and it was arguably one of the best matchups in the country this weekend. The No. 10 Arizona State Sun Devils are off to their best start since 1976 after taking down the No. 6 Illinois Fighting Illini 23-25, 25-19, 25-11, 15-25, and 15-11.
The game had every storyline imaginable. In a five-set match where the two head coaches who had previously played together, ASU was looking to get even after the loss two years ago.
The fifth set started with the teams trading the first five points. ASU then went on a 4-1 run to take a 7-3 lead. Out of a timeout called by Illinois head coach Kevin Wembly, the Illini came out and cut the lead to 8-5.
With the score tied at nine in the fifth set, junior opposite BreElle Bailey recorded a huge block to give ASU the lead. That block was quickly followed up a few points later by another key block, this time by fellow junior opposite Kizzy Ricedorff. The deciding set was finished off on a kill by junior outside hitter Cassidy Pickrell, giving ASU a final set victory winning the fifth set 15-11
Illinois with its back against the wall, played extremely hard in the fourth set. Down 2-1 in the match the Illini matched ASU point for point, then ultimately pulling away winning 25-15.
In the fourth set, ASU head coach Jason Watson disagreed with calls on back-to-back points resulting in a tangible momentum shift in the Fighting Illini’s favor resulting in his second yellow card of the season.
The students and fans of ASU showed up tonight a Watson credited them for really inspiring the team.
“I thought the 942 crew that came, they were remarkable. I certaintly felt like they were a big part of game five,” Watson said. “There was an enormous amount of emotion that came from those guys.”
The game started with as much if not more excitement than anticipated with the two teams showing why they’re ranked so highly. In front of a huge crowd at Wells Fargo Arena, the Sun Devils were able to jump out to an early 10-5 lead in the first set forcing Wembly to call an early timeout.
Later in the first set, the Illini went on a quick 7-1 run to take their first lead of the game at 17-16. ASU, which held the momentum for much of the first set seemed to lose a little towards the end as the Illini, who hadn’t lost a first set all season, pulled their largest lead of the set at 23-20. ASU hung tough, but the Illini ultimately stayed perfect in first sets this year, winning by a score of 25-23
The Sun Devils would keep their foot on the gas as they would finish out the second set by a final score of 25-19.
As is the theme of the season thus far, ASU came out firing on all cylinders in the the third set, jumping out 8-0. The well-placed timeouts by Wembly that stopped momentum earlier in the game didn’t have the same impact in the set. The Sun Devils were able to keep their lead around double-digits as they paced themselves out to a convincing set three victory by way of a 25-11 score.
This was also a game in which many Sun Devils rose up the career record marks. Three seniors, outside hitter Macey Gardner, middle blocker Whitney Follette and setter Bianca Arellano climbed ranks in this match. Arellano, the senior setter moved into sole possession of seventh all time in assists, while Gardner continues to be one of the best outside hitters in ASU’s history moving into second all-time in kills. Follete continued her ascention up the all-time total block and block assists list, moving into fifth and fourth place all-time respectively.
Overall, the Sun Devils had a few very successful games. Macey Gardner had an incredible line of 22 kills, 15 digs and seven blocks. Cassidy Pickrell also had a double-double, racking up 16 kills and 15 digs.
The focus of the Sun Devils now shifts to conference play. Both Gardner and Arellano stressed how the win is critical and big confidence boost going into the gauntlet of the Pac-12.
“It’s nice to finish off on this note,” Gardner said. “We took care of what needed to take care of when we needed to take care of it.”
Arellano reiterated that note from Gardner.
“We’re going into Pac-12 with some confidence, with some good experience,” she said. “That was just amazing tonight to finish like that.”
The first game on the Pac-12 slate for the Sun Devils comes Thursday, September 24th, against Arizona at 7 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.
