A perfect opening weekend was capped off by a perfect performance by senior middle blocker Mandy Stephens.
The SMU Radisson Volleyball Classic MVP finished the tournament with 27 kills and committed zero errors. Stephens ended the weekend with a match-high six blocks in a three-game sweep over host Southern Methodist and a .587 attacking percentage for the three-match tournament won by ASU.
"I wasn't surprised," Stephens said of her performance. "Usually I'm pretty consistent, but I'll get blocked a few times or hit a couple out. But I had a pretty good set and some good opportunities."
The biggest thrill for Stephens, outside of the win, was being named to the all-tournament team and dubbed MVP.
"I knew I had a good weekend, but I didn't expect to get all-tourney or MVP," Stephens said.
The 6-foot-3 Stephens was penciled in to start the season as the team's second middle blocker behind senior Jodi Proctor. However, with Proctor sidelined the entire year with a bad knee, Stephens has had to step up her performance.
"She really had the presence in the middle that helps everyone else," head coach Brad Saindon said. "The thing that impressed me most was her blocking.
"I thought she played better this weekend than I have even seen her play in practice."
Through nine matches, Stephens has led the team in attack percentage (.410) and blocks per game (0.88) among the regular starters. Prior to this season, Stephens saw limited action as a junior, playing in just 15 matches and averaging 1.32 kills per game.
The positive performance of Stephens and her teammates came following two disappointing outings the past two weekends, which found the Sun Devils below .500 for the year. The momentum-building win might prove to have come at the right time, with Pac-10 play opening up in Washington against the Huskies on Thursday.
"Everything just started to click," Stephens said. "It was fun; it was like practice."
Reach the reporter at jeffrey.hoodzow@asu.edu.
