COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—The No. 16 Arizona State volleyball team battled back after dropping the first set to defeat New Mexico State in five (22-25, 25-22, 25-18, 20-25, 15-7) on Saturday as part of the Falcon Classic at Air Force's Falcon Court.
Up next, the Sun Devils round out the weekend by facing off against the tournament hosts on Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. MT. The match will be live streamed via the Mountain West Network.
Against the Aggies, five Sun Devils finished the match with 10 or more kills, led by senior middle blocker Whitney Follette and junior outside hitter Cassidy Pickrell, who both tallied 12. Junior outside hitter Bree Bailey and senior outside hitter Macey Gardner each recorded 11 kills, while junior Kizzy Ricedorff was error free with 10 kills.
At the net, Follette and senior middle blocker Mercedes Binns each recorded nine total blocks, a new career best for Follette and also tying Binns' best. The mark moves Follette to sit by herself at No. 8 in the ASU career top-10 for block assists with 268. The No. 7 mark is 272 blocks assists from Nancy Christian (1990-93). Her career mark of 325 total blocks sits at No. 8 all-time, tied with Erica Wilson (2009-12) and behind Amy Nelson's (1990-92) 328.
ASU's 19.0 team total for blocks sits at No. 4 all-time in the rally scoring era. ASU also recorded 19.0 vs. Wyoming in 2009 and vs. San Jose State in 2007. It's the most total blocks since ASU put up 21.0 at Oregon on Oct. 24, 2014, which sits at No. 2 all-time.
The setter duo of senior Bianca Arellano and freshman Kylie Pickrell combined for 47 of ASU's 55 assists with 23 and 24, respectively.
For the Aggies, Gwen Murphy led the way with 16 kills on 26 swings for an attack percentage of .423, while Sasha-Lee Thomas led the way with six blocks.
Match Notes
Kills: Follette (12), C. Pickrell (12), Bailey (11), Gardner (11), Ricedorff (10)
Attack Pct: Binns (.545; 7K, 1E, 11 TA), Follette (.474; 12K, 3E, 19 TA), Ricedorff (.455; 10K 0E, 22 TA),
Assists: K. Pickrell (24), Arellano (23)
Digs: Harker (10)
Team Records Of Note:
Total Blocks (Rally Scoring Era)
1. vs. Cincinnati (8/29/09) – 21.5
2. at Oregon (10/24/14) – 21.0
3. vs. California (10/11/02) – 20.5
4. vs. New Mexico State (08/29/15) – 19.0
vs. Wyoming (9/19/09) – 19.0
vs. San Jose State (9/7/07) – 19.0
Career Records Of Note:
Kills
1. Christine Garner, 1992-95—1871
2. Sarah Reaves, 2007-10—1796
3. Macey Gardner (2012-present)—1695
4. Tammy Webb, 1983-86—1679
5. Amanda Burbridge, 1997-2000—1597
6. Christy Nore, 1985-88—1517
7. Valentina Vega, 1982-83, 85-86—1392
8. Jami Coughlin, 1998-2001—1360
9. Margie Giordano, 2005-08—1312
10. Lisa Stuck, 1980-83—1296
Block Assists
1. Tina Berg, 1987-90—378
2. Sonja Markanovich, 2008-11—329
3. Sue Nord, 1986-89—305
4. Erica Wilson, 2009-12—297
5. Tammy Webb, 1983-86—296
6. Debbie Penney, 1988-91—276
7. Nancy Christian, 1990-93—272
8. Whitney Follette (2012-present)—268
9. Laura Hibsman, 1996-99—259
10. Kirstin Mattson, 1993-97—258
Total Blocks
1. Tina Berg, 1987-90—530
2. Tammy Webb, 1983-86—492
3. Sue Nord, 1986-89—421
4. Kirstin Mattson, 1993-97—362
5. Sonja Markanovich, 2008-11—358
6. Tracey Barnerie, 1984-87—341
7. Amy Nelson, 1990-92—328
8. Whitney Follette, 2012-present—325
Erica Wilson, 2009-2012—325
