No. 16 ASU volleyball goes 3-0 in opening weekend

No. 16 Arizona State volleyball held off New Mexico State and swept host Air Force on Saturday to complete a 3-0 opening weekend.

Using a two-setter (Bianca Arellano and Kylie Pickrell) attack for the first time under coach eighth-year coach Jason Watson, ASU struggled offensively at times including early in the New Mexico State match. The Aggies won the first set and led 17-7 in the second before ASU rallied to win 22-25, 25-22, 25-18, 20-25, 15-7.

Middle blocker Whitney Follette hit .474 with 12 kills and nine blocks to lead the Sun Devils. Cassidy Pickrell also had 12 kills with 11 each for Bre Bailey (also seven blocks) and Macey Gardner, 10 for Kizzy Ricedorff and seven/nine blocks for Mercedes Binns.

ASU hit .290 to .151 for New Mexico State and had a 19-10 total blocks advantage.

The Sun Devils had an easier time against Air Force, winning 25-23, 25-13, 25-17. They also swept Northeastern on Friday. Against Air Force, Cassidy Pickrell, a transfer from UC Irvine, had 12 kills, Gardner 10 and Follette seven. Freshman middle blocker Jasmine Koonts played instead of Binns.

ASU returns to Colorado next week for matches against No. 12 Colorado State, Western Michigan and Northern Colorado in Fort Collins.