Sun Devils Kill the Cougars

By Marsha Wolf: SPM Men's Sports Editor
Posted Sunday, September 28, 2008

Which ‘State’ team would achieve their first Pac-10 conference volleyball victory Saturday? Would it be Washington State, fresh off a defeat at the hands of the highly regarded University of Arizona Wildcats, or Arizona State who achieved a ‘moral victory’ against the ninth- ranked Washington Huskies?

The Cougars and Sun Devils each played competitive matches Friday night in their Pac-10 openers. Admittedly not as talented as the Wildcats, the Cougars, led by senior Brittany Johnson’s 11 kills and junior Renee Bordelon’s 30 assists, tried to gut out a win against the Wildcats Friday night. The Cougars succumbed to the Cats, 25-23, 25-20 and 25-19.

In front of a spirited crowd of 1,131 Friday night, the Sun Devils lost in a five- game match to the Huskies 25-23, 24-26, 25-16, 15-25, 12-15. The Devils were led by senior Margie Giordano with 18 kills and 22 digs and sophomore Sarah Reaves with 20 kills, 14 digs and two blocks. Freshman Sonja Markanovich continues to impress with 11 kills, a .471 hitting percent and four block assists for the night.

Walking courtside to Saturday’s match I wondered how much each team had left in the tank, and how emotionally drained the Sun Devils might be after consecutive losses to two ranked teams, the 25th-ranked Michigan Wolverines last Saturday and, now, Washington the night before. Would the Cougars be ‘bus-lagged’ after the two-hour bus ride from Tucson for the 3 p.m. match following an evening match Friday night?

The Sun Devils came out quick, determined and aggressive in game one, racing to a 7-0 lead. There was simply no mercy shown the Cougars by ASU junior Marina Mercer with 12 assists, twp kills and a block, backed up by the always stalwart play of Margie Giordano with five kills and one block for the game and Sarah Reaves’ four kills and one assist. Match point was hit out of bounds by ASU, but a Cougar fingertip grazed the ball (symbolic of the Cougars luck throughout the match), game to the Devils 25-10.

WSU jumps out to an early 3-1 lead in game two on a kill by Cougar junior Renee Bordelon. Both teams play erratically, exchanging errors. With the score 4-6 Cougars, Devils’ freshman Sonja Markanovich blocks a WSU point attempt, starting a run to put the Devils back on top to stay.

Like a classic Ali-Frazier prize fight, WSU stayed with the Devils, exchanging kills back and forth. Giordano’s kill takes the score to 13-9, Devils. WSU senior Emily Rooney counters, score 13-10. Reaves’ point for the Devils makes it 14-10. Then, Giordano scores again for the Devils, time out WSU with the Devils pulling away at 15-10. The Cougars would go on to score only four more points as the Devils win the game 25-15 and go up in the match 2-0.

Typifying an afternoon of untimely errors, WSU begins game three by losing the first point on serve. Tied at 3-3, Giordano hits the kill, following up with a beautiful service ace. Devils are up 5-3. WSU stayed competitive in this game. However, the Sun Devils proved too talented, too deep and too determined for WSU. Game three goes to the Devils 21-16. Devils win the match 3-0.

WSU was led by senior Emily Rooney’s six kills. Washington State returns home to face number six Stanford on Friday, October 3. WSU’s season record is 7-6 and Pac-10 record 0-2.

Leading ASU in the match was Margie Giordano with 12 kills, 16 digs and one block. Significant contributors were Sarah Reaves with 11 kills, and the tandem of Sonja Markanovich and sophomore Sara Todorovich each with five kills.

Arizona State, now 10-5 overall and 1-1 in Pac-10 play, travels to the University of Arizona on Wednesday, October 1 for another ‘Duel in the Desert’. In a very competitive Pac-10 conference, and each team with 1-1 conference records, this could be a season changing match for either team, each looking for an NCAA post-season bid.