(Photo: Paige Cook/WCSN)
Arizona State (7-7, 0-3 Pac-12) traveled to Maples Pavilion to take on No. 17 Stanford (7-4, 2-1). After losing their first two conference matches of the year, the Sun Devils looked to get their first conference win against the Cardinal. Like many matches this season, the Devils lost the first set and played catch-up for the remainder of the match.
The first set looked promising for Arizona State as outside hitter Iman Isanovic got a service ace, putting Arizona State up 6-3. But Stanford rallied back and tied the set at 8 apiece. Soon after that, the Cardinal would rally together to go on a 4-0 run and take a 14-11 lead. Once the Cardinal started to pull away so did the Devils hopes of capturing a first set win. Junior hitter Kendall Kipp led Stanford to a dominating set one victory with five kills.
Eager to avoid the sweep, Arizona State came out of the gate strong. Sophomore Ella Snyder helped the Devils gain an early 10-5 lead with two aces. In this span, the Cardinal managed to cut the deficit to two points on consecutive kills by Kipp and Caitie Baird. The Devils managed to gain a 20-16 lead, but the relentless Cardinal stayed strong and cut the deficit to 21-19. This scoring outbreak forced Arizona State head coach Sanja Tomasevic to call a timeout. The timeout proved to be worth its weight, as the Devils manage to take the second set 25-21.
Riding the momentum from the second set, Arizona State jumped out to an early 9-7 lead, quickly extending that lead to 13-8. But after Stanford managed to tally three consecutive kills and an Arizona State error, the deficit was cut to 14-13. The Cardinal kept their foot on the gas and took a 20-18 lead. The pressure was on for the Devils and Beatrice Badini and Roberta Rabelo answered the call.
The duo tied the set at 23, forcing Stanford head coach Kevin Hambly to call a timeout. Hambly’s timeout proved vital, as Stanford would escape set three with a 25-23 win.
Trailing 2-1 in the match, Arizona State looked to force their eighth five-set match of the young season. Unfortunately for the Devils, the Cardinal had other plans. The set started close, but the Cardinal eventually took an 11-9 lead.
After a Tomasevic timeout, Stanford increased their scoring run to 7-0, taking a 14-9 lead. Trailing 16-10, Arizona State called their final timeout. Middle blocker Claire Jeter helped lead a late comeback with a block while trailing 21-14 and Isanovic, Badini and Marta Levinska chipped in to cut the deficit to five. Still, the Sun Devils ultimately lost set four, 25-20.
The Devils will travel to Berkeley for their match against the California Bears on Sunday, Oct. 3. Arizona State’s loss Friday night makes them 0-3 in conference play, tied with Cal and Oregon State for last place. Heading into Sunday’s match, it’s hard to ignore the striking similarities between the Bears and Devils. Both teams will enter the match with a record of 7-7, with an 0-3 mark in conference play. Both teams also are riding a four-match losing streak.
