ASU Volleyball: Sun Devils find success in Northern Arizona

It did not take long for the Arizona State Sun Devils (7-2) to find their winning ways again early in the season.

After a good start to the year in the first weekend, the Sun Devils struggled in Washington during the second. However, they responded with wins over Cal State Bakersfield, Northern Arizona University and Utah State this weekend.

Match 1:

ASU came out and handled its business against CSUB quickly by winning the match in straight sets 25-17, 25-18, 25-21.

The defense was a catalyst for the Sun Devils, as it was able to hold the Roadrunners to a dismal .084 hitting percentage. Adding eight total blocks in the three sets.

Another setter got the chance to start for head coach Sanja Tomasevic, bringing the season total to three different starters. Sophomore setter Nicole Peterson got the nod and notched 33 assists and nine digs to aid the Sun Devil offense.

The Roadrunners tried to ignite a spark on offense by spreading the ball around. Three players got over 20 attempts, but no one was able to find the court.

Match 2:

In the main match of the weekend for ASU, the Sun Devils bounced back after a first set loss to grab the match 17-25, 25-13, 25-14, 25-18.

Senior outside hitter Oluoma Okaro took charge of the Sun Devils offense once again, adding 19 more kills to her season total.

Freshman setter Shelbie Dobmeier found her way back onto the court for three sets and impressed once again. She would finish the match with 38 assists and six digs. Dobmeier also showed craftiness with four kills of her own on six attempts.

Match 3:

In a match against the Utah State Aggies, freshman outside hitter Griere Hughes had the best match of her young career powering ASU to a 28-26, 25-20, 25-15 sweep.

Hughes led the charge on offense for the match, registering a whopping .647 hitting percentage. She was able to convert 13 kills on 17 swings with only two hitting errors.

Senior outside hitter Lauren Anderson took the bulk of swings for the Aggies and picked up 11 kills, but it was not enough to keep her team in the match.

Senior libero Halle Harker added another double-digit dig total in this match with 10, and the Sun Devils cruised to a sweep to close out the season.

Best Weekend Performances:

1. Oluoma Okaro: 51 kills, 4.5 blocks, 27 digs
2. Shelbie Dobmeier: 72 assists, 12 assists per set, 7 kills
3. Halle Harker: 43 digs, 4.3 digs per set

Next up for the Sun Devils is the UT Arlington Maverick Classic. They will face off against Lamar, Houston Baptist and UT Arlington. That will be the final nonconference tournament before Pac-12 play begins.