(Photo: James Powel/WCSN)
Amidst a hectic and tumultuous offseason, the Arizona State women’s volleyball program has lost another key part of its offense.
After playing setter for her first two years of college, setter Kylie Pickrell has announced she is leaving the Sun Devils to join the North Carolina State Wolfpack for her junior season.
Pickrell is the second player to transfer from ASU this offseason, as outside hitter Lexi MacLean also transferred for her junior season, electing to play for the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs.
The Sun Devils also parted ways with their head coach Stevie Mussie after only one season. Sanja Tomasevic, previously an assistant coach for the Sun Devils, was hired as the new ASU head coach on December 21st.
Pickrell saw the court early and often in her time with the Sun Devils. During her freshman year, she played in 103 of the team’s 115 total sets, and 30 of 32 matches. Throughout the 2015 season, she led the team or tied for the team-high in assists in nine games.
Pickrell also finished fourth on the team with 156 digs and third on the team with 16 service aces. She posted four double-doubles throughout her freshman campaign.
After her freshman season, the Sun Devils were under the direction of a new head coach. Previous coach Jason Watson left and Mussie was named the new head coach at ASU.
Despite the coaching change, Pickrell started the majority of her sophomore season and led the team in assists. She posted 727 assists on the year, nearly 500 more than second on the team.
Pickrell also came in fourth on the team in digs with 148 and tied for second with 10 service aces. She posted four more double-doubles during her sophomore season.
Pickrell notched a career high 64 assists in the season finale against the Arizona Wildcats on November 26th. That mark sits tenth all time in the ASU record book in the rally scoring era for assists in a single match.
