It took two matches, but the ASU volleyball team found its game at the right time and upset No. 22 Arizona in what head coach Brad Saindon called the most dramatic comeback he's seen in his 20-year coaching career.
"I'm having trouble believing this one," Saindon said. "I thought Arizona was a better team than we were tonight, but somehow we found a way to beat them."
A two-match slide ended with victory for the Sun Devils (6-6) and gave them their first win of the young Pac-10 season. The loss was the third straight for the Wildcats (6-7), who have yet to win a conference match.
Despite the efforts of the players on the court, ASU's MVP may have been the crowd. Last week against the Washington schools, the Sun Devils were on the wrong side of student sections and fans known for their hostility. This week, however, more than 3,200 Sun Devil fans gave ASU a dramatic home-court advantage.
"Without question, the crowd was a major player in this match," Saindon said. "The crowd never let up, even when we were behind and down 2-0. The crowd wouldn't let us get swept."
The Sun Devils lost the first game 30-26, and the Wildcats were clearly the dominant team. They out-blocked ASU 5-1, and the Sun Devils had seven service errors, a problem that has haunted the program since Saindon implemented the jump serve.
The second game looked like more of the same until the Sun Devils started to show signs of life. They tied the game at 11, motivating the crowd and forcing UA head coach David Rubio to take a timeout. The seesaw match saw seven tied scores and four lead changes.
The break between the second and third games brought an energized ASU back onto the court.
"I said we could still win this match," Saindon said. "I said, 'Look, seniors, this is your last chance ever in your life to play this match. And freshmen, you get four of these in your life, so you got to go back out and don't let it slip away. It's the last one you're ever going to get.' For once they listened, I guess."
The team beset by miscommunication during the first two games was replaced by a squad that dominated the court. With the boisterous crowd behind them, the Devils had only three service errors in the game and out-hit the Wildcats for the first time in the night, .217 to .162.
"We just decided to come out and play," said junior Natalie Harris, who led the team with 19 kills. "We have great fans, and we didn't want to disappoint them."
ASU won the fourth game in extra time, 36-34. Senior Kim Mehlhorn led the charge during a 12-1 run that clearly turned the momentum in favor of the Sun Devils. Mehlhorn had three service aces during the streak and led the team with seven aces for the match.
In the fifth and deciding game, ASU rode both the crowd and its newfound momentum to a quick 15-10 victory.
"The adrenaline was flowing," Harris said. "We had the momentum. We won the last two games, so we just kept doing what we were doing well."
UA's attack was led by sophomore outside hitter Kim Glass, the 2002 National Freshman of the Year. Glass hit 74 balls and finished with 31 kills, both highs for the season.
"They have a lot of weapons on that team, and I thought they depended on [Glass] a little too much," Saindon said.
The Sun Devils offense was more balanced compared to the Glass-led Wildcats. Four players finished with double-digit kills.
Reach the reporter at jeffrey.hoodzow@asu.edu.
