Oct. 10, 2006

TEMPE, Ariz. -

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The Sun Devils will look to snap their four match losing streak when they head north

to Oregon to battle the Ducks and the Beavers. This weekend's match-up finally

end a brutal stretch in which ASU faced four straight teams ranked in the AVCA

Top 10...Arizona State pushed #4 USC to the brink on Friday, eventually losing

3-2...The #3 Bruins swept the Devils on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena.

 

Devils vs. Ducks:

The Sun Devils lead the all-time series with Oregon 33-7. Last year, ASU took the first

match 3-0 in Tempe and the second match 3-1 in Eugene. Arizona State has dominated

this series of late, winning 16 straight matches over the Ducks.

 

Devils vs. Beavers:

ASU holds a 27-14 edge in the all-time series against the Beavers. Oregon State won

both matches from the Devils a year ago. Arizona State last beat the Beavers in Corvallis

in 2004.

 

Career Highs:

Margie Giordano has set new career highs with her 18 kills against Auburn, and her

23 digs against Butler...Sydney Donahue's 50 digs against LMU are a career high and

NCAA record for digs in a three-game match...Danielle Fernandes set a career high in

kills, three times recording ten against UVSC, LMU and Duke...Tierra Burnley tied

a career high with 13 kills against Butler.

 

Quick Sets :

• Sydney Donahue has recorded 10 or more digs in 60 of her 70 career matches.

• Sydney Donahue has recorded double-digit digs in 27 straight matches.

• Nina Reeves is writing a weekly blog on TheSunDevils.com.

• ASU's match in Tempe against Washington State (10/20) will be televised on FSN.

• Kristen Trayser is expected to miss the season due to a back injury.

 

Last Week's Rewind:

The Sun Devils gave the fourth ranked USC Women of Troy all they could handle,

pushing them to a fifth game before falling. ASU came out firing, taking game one

before dropping the next two to USC. The Sun Devils battled back to win game four

and force a decisive fifth game. Game five was a microcosm of the entire match, as

neither team could gain a big advantage. Ultimately, the Women of Troy were just

to strong up front as they picked up the game five win and the match. Nina Reeves

and Staci Smith each had 18 kills for ASU while Nicole Morton pitched in with 17...

The #3 UCLA Bruins came to Tempe on Saturday and were able to escape with a

3-0 sweep. Despite being swept by the Bruins, the Sun Devils were competitive and

battled hard. UCLA used 14 blocks to overpower the Devils, despite 12 kills from

both Nina Reeves and Margie Giordano.

 

Morton Magnificent:

Senior outside hitter Nicole Morton is having an outstanding senior season. She is the

team leader in kills (199) and kills per game (3.43) while hitting at a .240 clip. Morton

was named the MVP of the Hilton Phoenix/East Mesa Sun Devil Classic in August.

 

No Sophomore Slump:

Sophomore outside hitter Margie Giordano has picked up right where she left off last

season when she was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team. Giordano has played

rock solid so far this year, totaling 179 kills for an average of 3.09 per game. Giordano

was second on the team in 2005 with 235 kills. She was named the Co-Best Attacker

at the Courtyard by Marriott Classic.

 

Digging It:

Junior libero Sydney Donahue continues on her quest for ASU records. She now has

1,389 career digs, passing Terri Cox for third on the school's all-time list. Donahue

needs 189 more to pass Jami Coughlin for second all-time, and 208 digs to pass

Christy Nore for most in school history. She has 386 so far this season, and is on

pace for 700 digs, which would break her own record of digs in a season which she

set last season with 628. Donahue currently leads the Pac-10 in total digs (386) and

digs per game (6.66).

 

Service Ace Staci:

Junior middle blocker Staci Smith has been serving up a storm this year for the Devils.

Smith lead the team with 17 service aces. She also came big against USC, recording

18 kills in the five game loss.

 

Head Coach Brad Saindon:

Head Coach Brad Saindon is in his fourth season at the helm of the Sun Devil Volleyball

program. Saindon has compiled a 36-62 record at ASU and an all-time 280-202 record

in 16 seasons at the collegiate level. He coached the University of Colorado to a 181-

112 record from 1986-96, leading the Buffaloes to six NCAA Tournaments and two

Sweet 16 appearances. He was also the head coach of the Australian Women's National

Team in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Saindon graduated from ASU in 1976 with a

degree in business administration. He is assisted by Mike Wall and Megan Jacobson,

both in their first season at Arizona State.

 

Up Next:

Arizona State will return home to once again face a Top 10 team, hosting the defending

national champions and fifth ranked Washington Huskies on Thursday, October 19.

The Sun Devils then welcome to Wells Fargo Arena the Washington State Cougars

on Friday night for a match that will be televised by FSN. Both matches will begin

at 7 pm.

 

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