SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State volleyball team remained undefeated as it recorded a pair of sweeps in Pueblo, CO on Wednesday, downing Adams State (25-21, 25-15, 25-15) and Colorado State – Pueblo (26-24, 25-21, 27-25).
The Belles improved to 6-0 on the season, with five of the six wins coming in sweeping fashion. ASU's offense shined in its first match of the day as it recorded a .344 clip against the Grizzlies. In its second match, it was the team's fortitude and resolve led it to a victory in the three close sets. With the losses the Grizzlies fell to 3-2, while the Thunder Wolves fell to 1-4 on the season.
"Road wins are always tough," commented Head Coach Chuck Waddington." To get two of them today makes us very happy. Pueblo really pushed us tonight. They have some talented attackers and play really scrappy defense and I like how our kids responded to the challange"
Mallory Blauser led the offensive attack tallying double-figure kills in both matches. This included a season and team high 20 kills against CSU-P. Against Adams State the senior chalked up 14 kills for an outstanding .636 attack percentage. She continues to lead the team with a 4.21 kill per set average on the season.
Brianna Sotello followed closely behind with 20 total kills on the day. The San Antonio native recorded her third double-double of the season against the Thunder Wolves with a 12 kill, 12 dig performance. She also led the team against Adams State with another 12 digs. From the service line, Sotello added a total of six service aces to her season numbers, moving her into second on the squad with a total of eight in 2016.
Both Abbie Lynn and Morgan Seaton also had strong showings in today's matches. Lynn contributed eight kills and a pair of block against Adams State. While, Seaton shined in the second match of the day firing in nine kills and leading the team with three blocks.
Libero Micheala Sifuentes, defensive specialist Mallory Davidson and middle blocker Leiyona Young headed up the ASU defense. Sifuentes led the way against the Thunder Wolves; with a team high 15 digs. Davidson recorded her first match with double-figure digs (11) against CSU-Pueblo. Against the Grizzlies it was Young who made her presence felt in front of the net as she added a team most three blocks to her numbers for the day.
Lone Star Conference setter of the week, Meghan Parker recorded her fourth double-double to the mix as she finished the day with 43 assists and 10 digs against CSU-P. Her 72 total assist on the day bring her season total to team leading 231 this season. Defensively, the freshman also chalked up a season high two total blocks.
The Belles started the first set of the day in a battle with Adams State. Down 5-4, a point from Blauser and Seaton, as well as a pair of Grizzly errors gave ASU its first lead of the day. However, Adams State would rally back into the set with a 5-1 run. With the score tied at 10 the Grizzlies continued to increase its lead. At 15-12, an attacking error followed by a Sotello kill kicked of the Belles 9-3 run to regain the lead. With 21 points on the board for ASU, Lynn lazered in two consecutive kill shots to increase the lead. Adams State answered with its own two straight points, bringing the score to 23-21. Finally, a Sotello kill and a Grizzly error closed the set out in the Belles favor.
The second set began with a pair of errors giving the Belles the early lead. Adams State quickly made adjustments and took over the lead, until Young dropped in a kill to bring the score back to an even three. This also began a 7-2 run for ASU giving it a 9-5 lead. The Belles would not look back completing the set with a 7-1 run that saw big hits from Lynn, Blauser, Sotello and Seaton.
Exiting the break with a 2-0 lead, Blauser fired in the first point of the final set. Angelo State would not relinquish the lead in this set. With the score sitting at 3-2, Tulani Titley rocketed in a kill for her first of three in the set. The Grizzlies would continue to keep the score close until Blauser started a 6-1 run that would push the Belles ahead 14-6. Angelo State would close out the sweep with another large 7-1 run that ended with a Blauser kill.
In its second match of the day, the Belles started off slowly allowing CSU-Pueblo to take an early 10-5 lead. ASU then rattled off seven unanswered points to take its first lead of the match at 12-10. The two teams continued to trade points. Tied at 24-24, Blauser fired in a kill to place the Belles one point away from the set win and a CSU-Pueblo would put the set away.
Young carried the Belles momentum into the second set dropping in a kill that was set up by Parker. Once again the teams would exchange points bring the score to an even 16. Sotello, Sifuentes and Blauser would add four to the board for the Belles to give them the lead again. A thunder Wolves blocking error would put the set away and give the Belles a 2-0 set lead heading into the break.
CSU-Pueblo got things started in the final set of the day as they struck first. Young quickly answered and the two teams would once again exchange point-for-point. With the score tied at 7 a block by Blauser and Young gave the Belles the lead , which it would hold on to until the Thunder Wolves brought it back to even at 14 each. Continuing to trade points, CSU –Pueblo took a 25-24 lead and was one away from taking its first set. A kill and an ace by Sotello and a kill by Seaton would regain the lead and put the Check in the win column for the Belles.
ASU returns to action on Friday, September 9 as they take on No. 6 Central Missouri at 1 p.m. (CDT) in its opening match of the Colorado Premier Tournament in Denver, CO.
