(Photo: Ryan Bafaloukos/WCSN)
In a match of ranked opponents, the Sun Devils just couldn’t swim with the Ducks at Wells Fargo Arena. The No. 21 ranked Oregon Ducks defeated Arizona State in four sets.
After ASU won the first 25-21, Oregon ran off three in a row (25-19, 25-10, 25-20).
The Sun Devils were led by outside hitter Macey Gardner in the first set. The outside hitter had six kills with just one error in the opening set, but it was downhill from there and Gardner felt like she left a lot on the table.
“When the tempo’s not there, there are a whole bunch of different variables that come into play and they just didn’t come together tonight,” Gardner said. “They served our outsides off the court and took us out of system.”
Gardner finished the match with 20 kills and 10 hitting errors, but it wasn’t just Gardner that couldn’t get the offense going. No other Sun Devil finished with over ten kills and the chemistry seemed to be off all game.
“I thought that setter-hitter relationship never got going,” ASU head coach Jason Watson said. “We were never in tempo. Oregon served well and we didn’t respond to it.”
This was the Sun Devils first home loss of the season and Watson understands the significance of winning at Wells Fargo Arena.
When you go on the road you need to get a split.” Watson said, “There is a sense of urgency at home to make sure you sweep. We failed in that tonight. We absolutely failed in our preparation in being able to play.”
The Ducks’ starting setter Lauren Plum missed today’s game with an ankle injury but it didn’t slow down the squad: no Plum, no problem.
“When those things tend to happen, we talk before the match that they’re going to rally around their setter,” Watson said. “In some ways they’re going to be better because they understand they need to play better because they’re without their setter. They played great.”
Watson gave Oregon all the credit and the Ducks deserved to win this game but Oregon head coach Jim Moore didn’t feel like they played their best match.
“We gave them ten points in game one,” Moore said, “We made six hitting errors and didn’t make any in the next two sets.”
Just like Watson, though, Moore was pleased with beating a quality team on the road.
“I’m really happy.” Moore said, “I could care less about a sweep. A win is a win.”
The Sun Devils will next play on Friday, Oct. 11, at Washington State.
