Devils in Detail
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ASU Volleyball: Sun Devils swept by Buffs; now 0-7 in Pac-12

By Carson Field

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky the Sun Devil performs during the team's quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament against the Oregon Ducks T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Oregon won 80-57. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky the Sun Devil performs during the team's quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament against the Oregon Ducks T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Oregon won 80-57. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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ASU volleyball was once again bested tonight against Colorado in three sets, moving ASU’s record to 0-7 in Pac-12 play and 10-9 overall.

After losing its first six matches in conference play, the ASU volleyball team lost once again, this time at the hands of the Colorado Buffaloes.

Colorado came into the match 2-4 in the Pac-12 and received votes for the AVCA Coaches Poll. The Buffaloes lost both of their matches last weekend against the Washington schools.

The start of the first set was well-contested, for the score was tied 6-6. Colorado then went on a 5-0 run to extend its lead to 11-6.

The Sun Devils, however, rebounded quickly, going on a 4-0 run of their own.

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Set one remained close, as the score was tied at 15 before CU won 8 of the next 11 points to retain the lead 23-18. The Buffaloes went on to win the set 25-21.

The start of the second set was also close, as the teams were tied 12-12 in the middle of the set.

However, the Buffaloes went on a 5-0 run, including back to back service aces scored on Halle Harker, giving Colorado a 17-12 lead.

Colorado closed out the set, winning 25-16 and extending the CU match lead to 2-0.

The Sun Devils hit for a horrendous -.048 hitting percentage in set two, and the team recorded 10 errors in the set.

“If we hit -.048, we had more errors than we had kills in that set. That’s unacceptable,” head coach Sanja Tomasevic said.

In set three, the Buffaloes got off to a hot start, as they led 8-5 in the beginning of the set, and they continued to play well, extending their lead to 15-11.

The Sun Devils managed to keep the set close as they tied the match at 19-19.

Nevertheless, the Buffaloes managed to sneak away from the Sun Devils in the set, 26-24, clinching the sweep of the Sun Devils.

Oly Okaro led the Sun Devils in kills with 18, but Coach Tomasevic said she needs to see more out of the senior outside hitter.

“Well Oly gets her kills, but Oly needs to do a lot more for this team,” Tomasevic said. “She missed five serves. She can’t miss five serves.

“Oly needs to step up as a leader, and that’s something I expect from her for a long time. She’s a senior, so she needs to step up and lead this team.”

The next contest for the Sun Devils is on Sunday against Utah. The Utes are the 13th-ranked team in the nation, and they are riding on a four-game winning streak.

While the the team morale has declined after losing seven straight games, the team has hope for Sunday’s match against Utah.

“We’re excited to get back in the gym tomorrow, and obviously we know we have to work hard to get after Utah; they’re a tough team,” senior libero Halle Harker said.

Next: ASU Volleyball: Sun Devils fall in four sets to #15 USC

Sunday’s matchup begins at 1 p.m. PST at Wells Fargo Arena, and it will be televised on the Pac-12 Arizona.