2009 Pac-10 Women's Volleyball Preview Series

TEAM QUICK FACTS
2008 Overall Record: 13-18
2008 Pac-10 Record/Finish: 4-14/8th

Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 11/3
Newcomers: 5

Head Coach: Jason Watson (2nd year)
Alma Mater: BYU '95
Record at Arizona State: 13-18 (1st year)
Assistant Coaches: Brent Alderidge, Sammi Stuart

2009 TEAM PREVIEW
Entering his second season as coach of the Sun Devils, Jason Watson has 11 players returning and the No. 25-ranked recruiting class according to prepvolleyball.com. Leading the way for ASU will be senior setter Marina Mercer and junior outside hitter Sarah Reaves. With the departure of outside hitter Margie Giordano to graduation, freshman outside hitter Ashley Kastl should feel more comfortable within a speed-orientated offense. Erica Wilson, the highest-rated freshman recruit in this group, adds a much-needed middle who can hit fast behind the setter.

KEY MATCHUPS
• Aug. 28 - Arizona State at Utah, 5:00 p.m. MT
• Oct. 16 - Arizona at Arizona State, 7:00 p.m. PT (FSN)
The Sun Devils travel to Utah to open the 2009 season in the Utah Classic. The Utes, selected to repeat as the Mountain West Conference champions, are ranked No. 19 in the Volleyball Magazine Preseason Poll and are led by junior outside hitter Karolina Bartowiak. ASU has done well against Utah owning an 8-1 all-time record. The last time the Duel in the Desert was televised, ASU defeated UA, 3-0. The Sun Devils hope this year will be no different. The two schools split last season with Wildcats defeating ASU, 3-0 in Tucson.

SUN DEVIL TO WATCH
9 • Marina Mercer
SR • Setter • Chandler, Ariz..

Controlling the offense for the Sun Devils will be senior setter Marina Mercer. A first team Pac-10 All-Academic and ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District third-team selection, Mercer ranked sixth in the Conference last season with 10.35 assists per set. She ranks third on ASU's all-time career assists list with 3,598 and needs 698 assists for second place. She has played in 100 or more games in three-consecutive seasons. In each of the past three years, Mercer has registered at least 1,100 assists.