(Photo: Blake Benard/WCSN)
After two heartbreaking five-set losses to the Southern California schools, the Arizona State Sun Devils travel to Eugene to take on the Oregon Ducks.
The Ducks come in at 14-13 overall and 8-10 in Pac-12 play having just gotten swept by the No. 2 Washington Huskies.
For the Ducks offense to be efficient, everything has to run through sophomore setter Maggie Scott. On the year Scott, is seventh in conference averaging 9.85 assists. She handles the majority of the setting for the Ducks and is paramount to their offense.
The two best hitters she’s feeding are senior outside hitter Martenne Bettendorf and junior outside hitter Lindsey Vander Weide. Bettendorf is the Ducks leading hitter averaging 3.46 per set while Vander Weide supplements her with 3.21 of her own.
One aspect of Oregon the Sun Devils should look to exploit is their defense, specifically their blocking.
The Ducks are currently second to last in the Pac-12 in blocks per set. For ASU, who recently played a much better blocking team in USC, outside hitters junior Cassidy Pickrell and freshman Lexi MacLean should be able to find a lot more holes on their swings.
Production from the left side will be key for the Sun Devils in this match. At times, the Sun Devil offense will be too right side heavy with junior BreElle Bailey and senior Whitney Follette carrying the bulk of the load. The play of Pickrell and MacLean will even out the offense and provide much needed balance.
The Sun Devils should also be able to continue their recent trend of once again becoming a dominant defensive team.
ASU is just three one-hundredths of a block away from leading the Pac-12 in that category. The Sun Devils are currently seventh in the nation in blocks at 2.99 per set.
The Sun Devils are still seeking their 20th win of the season and have their sights set on a fourth straight NCAA tournament. The match against the Ducks is at 9 p.m and can be seen on the University of Oregon Live Stream.
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