ASU volleyball split its season-opening series with No. 8 Washington, winning Friday's game 3-0 and losing Saturday’s game 3-1.
ASU’s victory in the first game of the series was the program’s first win against Washington since 2018. Before that win, ASU last beat Washington in 2012.
Friday (25-20, 25-15, 28-26)
In ASU's first game of the series, freshman outside hitter Marta Levinska led the way with 18 kills, nine digs and three blocks. Sophomore outside hitter Iman Isanovic recorded 12 kills and senior middle blocker Megan Beedie added on eight kills.
The Sun Devils were down for much of the first set until they produced a 6-0 run against the Huskies to take a 20-18 lead.
ASU would only surrender two more points the rest of the set, winning it 25-20 with consecutive kills from Levinska to end the set.
The Sun Devils built a 10-7 lead to begin the second set before rattling off an 8-1 run to increase their lead to 10 points.
Washington produced a late 4-0 run to pull within nine points late in the set, but ASU scored two more points to win the set 25-15 to take a two-set lead.
ASU and Washington played the third set tight, with neither team gaining a lead of more than four points despite Washington going on a 7-0 run midway through the set.
The Sun Devils slowly climbed back to tie the Huskies and eventually took a 24-22 lead with a 4-0 run. However, the Huskies scored consecutive points to continue the set.
After ASU fell behind 26-25, the team strung together three consecutive kills to win the set 28-26 and secure its first win of the season.
Saturday (24-26, 25-22, 21-25, 23-25)
Isanovic led the way for ASU in the second game of the series with 16 kills, nine digs and one block, while Levinska added 13 kills, 10 digs and two blocks.
Both ASU and Washington could not build substantial leads in the first set, being tied at 19-19 late into the set. The Sun Devils were able to score five points to force set point at 24-22 but were unable to finish the set, surrendering four consecutive points to the Huskies to lose the first set 26-24.
After ASU led 10-9 early in the second set, the team produced an 8-0 to take an 18-9 lead. Washington fought back with multiple runs to decrease ASU's lead to one point, but Beedie secured a kill at set point to tie the game at one point apiece.
The Huskies took control of the third set early, using an 11-3 run to take a 20-10 lead over the Sun Devils. Despite Washington being at set point, ASU produced a 5-0 run to cut its deficit to three points. However, a kill by Washington senior outside hitter Samantha Drechsel lifted her team to a 25-21 victory in the third set and gave it a 2-1 lead.
Washington took control of the fourth set early and never relinquished its lead. Despite ASU mounting a 5-0 run late in the set to cut its deficit to one point, Washington maintained its lead to win the set 25-23.
ASU will play next against Washington State on Jan. 28 at 12 p.m. MST in Tempe.
Reach the reporter at njpietrz@asu.edu and follow @NPietrzycki on Twitter.
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