Sun Devils survive the Buffs’ comeback, win five-set thriller

(Photo: Jasmyne Lott/WCSN)

In what could have been a quick win against an unranked opponent, the No. 17 Arizona State Sun Devils survived a run from the Colorado Buffaloes in an all-out brawl with a 3-2 win. The final score was (25-23, 25-23, 18-15, 15-25, 15-13).

The fifth set was a nail-biter, with the score at one point being 13-13. Thanks to an attack error by Colorado outside hitter Alexis Austin, ASU was given a chance to put it away and was able to capitalize behind crucial blocks from outside hitter BreElle Bailey and middle blocker Mercedes Binns.

The Sun Devils outplayed Colorado in the first two sets to come away with a 2-0 lead in the match, but just barely. Even with ASU maintaining a decent lead, the Buffaloes were not far behind.

It was the third set where the Sun Devils started to break down. The team’s hitting percentage dropped from the mid .200s to the high .100s, and the Buffaloes stayed persistent, led by junior outside hitter Alexis Austin with 22 kills and senior outside hitter Taylor Simpson with 24. ASU was led by junior outside hitter Macey Gardner, who tallied only 18 kills after averaging 28.5 kills per match last week.

One advantage the Sun Devils had was that the Buffaloes committed more errors with a total of 39 opposed ASU’s 30. The difference in errors very well may have represented the difference in this match.

The Buffs ended up with much better statistics than the Sun Devils despite it being a losing effort. Colorado had 21 more kills, 19 more assists, 5 more aces, and 13 more digs. The Sun Devils came to play when they had to, though, which was mainly in the deciding fifth set.

The Sun Devils will play again this Sunday at 11:00 a.m. in Salt Lake City at Jon M. Huntsman Center against the University of Utah. Utah played Colorado last week and lost in five sets, so if the Sun Devils don’t step up their game, they are in for another crazy ride.

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