(Photo: Marlee Smith/WCSN)
Arizona State (1-3) returns to Desert Financial Arena to host No. 8 University of Utah (4-0) this weekend after coming up short in its two matches against Washington State (3-1).
Although Arizona State defeated then No. 8 Washington (3-1) in its first match of the season, it hasn’t won since.
The Sun Devils have realized their young offense is unbalanced and undisciplined. Service errors are an issue and starting freshman setter Ella Snyder has struggled to distribute the ball evenly.
“I think we are going to have to get better faster,” head coach Sanja Tomasevic said. “Utah is a really good team, and in my opinion, the best team in the Pac-12. We are going to have to be a lot more disciplined and stay patient throughout the rallies.”
The Utes are undefeated and have had a nearly perfect season, with only one match going to more than three sets.
Utah’s efficient offense has hit a .320 hitting percentage as a team so far. Senior outside hitter Dani Drews racked up a combined 32 kills against Cal last weekend. Junior setter Saige Ka’aha’aina-Torres had 76 combined assists.
Blocking will be essential to stopping the Utah offense. Washington State out-blocked Arizona State 15-5 in their last matchup.
Defensively, Utah hasn’t allowed a hitting percentage over .106 in any match.
Sun Devil sophomore outside hitter Iman Isanovic had a double-double versus Washington State last Saturday, earning 16 kills and 12 digs. Freshman outside hitter Marta Levinska had 13 kills and eight digs.
Isanovic and Levinska will need to continue to step up in these upcoming matches to fuel the Sun Devil offense against the dominant Utes defense.
Last season Utah defeated Arizona State twice, once in Tempe and again in Salt Lake City.
“The effort and energy has to be there,” Snyder said. “If we are going to win these tough games, then we need to be locked in and have all the energy. We have the coaches that support us and our team is super stacked. We just need to come together and be a team.”
The first match of the series between the Utes and Sun Devils is slated for Friday at 3 p.m., and the second will be Sunday at 1 p.m. Both matches can be seen on the Pac-12 Network.
