A loss to the Arizona State Sun Devils over the weekend led to a not so sunny first weekend of Shocker volleyball.

The season started well enough with a sweep over North Dakota State on Friday. The Shockers won by scores of 25-22, 25-16 and 25-18.

The Bison proved to be exciting opponents, but with strong showings from Elizabeth Field (nine kills), Chelsey Feekin (33 assists, seven digs and two kills) and Ashley Andrade (eight blocks), the Shockers pulled out the win.

The team played Arizona State the next day, with very different results. The first of the three games was close, with WSU having a couple of early leads, but ASU fought back to take a multi-point lead, 22-19. ASU ultimately took the first of the games, 25-22.

The Shockers started well in the second game, but faded quickly. Arizona State took the second game, 25-9, and the third, 25-16.

In the third match of the invitational, WSU played the host school, Utah Valley. In three highly contested games, the Shockers came away with a sweep. Field again led the team with 13 kills and Feekin had six kills and 36 assists.

Field and Feekin were named to the all-tournament team.

The team has dropped from the top 25, though it received national attention and Associated Press votes.

After Shocker Volleyball made it to its first Sweet 16 in school history last year, they were ranked number 24 in the AP preseason poll.

“Last season gave all the students something to be excited about,” WSU student Diane Rebecca said. “The games were exciting before the national attention. I can only imagine what this season will be like.”

Shockers around the nation will be watching closely as the team attempts to make the NCAA tournament this season for its seventh year in a row.

WSU will look to bounce back on Friday against Utah State at Portland, Ore.