(Photo via Marina Williams/WCSN)
After splitting its Rocky Mountain road trip that included a rocky upset loss to Colorado, No. 21 Arizona State volleyball returns home this weekend for a rematch against the Bay Area Pac-12 Conference opponents in No. 3 Stanford (17-2, 10-0 Pac-12) and Cal (14-7, 3-7 Pac-12).
Despite two upset losses to Oregon State and Colorado, ASU (19-3, 7-3 Pac-12) has a spot in the AVCA top-25 for the fifth straight week. This can be attributed to ASU’s 19-3 record and its sweep of No. 9 Oregon on Oct. 15. Being only five spots away from outside of the top-25, this weekend’s matches could decide whether or not the five-week streak extends to six.
Cal, the first opponent ASU faces this weekend, has struggled in conference play this season. The Golden Bears are 3-7 against Pac-12 opponents, with one of those seven losses being a five-set match against ASU earlier this season. To achieve a season sweep, the Sun Devils will have to perform at a high level offensively against a Cal team that collectively averages 14.45 digs per set, the most in the Pac-12. The defensive effort is led by senior libero Tara DeSa, ranking first in the Pac-12 with 4.45 digs per set.
Stanford, the only undefeated Pac-12 team in conference play, will present a major test for the Sun Devils. In the first match between the two foes, the Cardinal handed the Sun Devils their first loss of the season in a sweep. The two sweeps ASU has fallen victim to this season, Stanford and Colorado, have had one thing in common: the offense uncharacteristically struggled.
ASU’s team hitting percentage of .295 ranks 10th in the nation and third in the Pac-12, but it was held to a mere .125 clip against Stanford and .139 last Sunday against Colorado. The Sun Devils’ ability to hit more efficiently against the Cardinal will prove vital in their efforts to avoid a season sweep.
On the defensive side, the Sun Devils will face a tough task against fifth-year opposite hitter Kendall Kipp. Throughout the first match, ASU had no answer for the reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year, as she notched a team-leading 15 kills and 11 digs. Kipp is having another impressive season, ranking second in the Pac-12 in both kills per set (4.32) and service aces per set (0.43). Kipp has been the engine of a Cardinal offense that sits first in the Pac-12 with 14.82 kills per set and a .318 team hitting percentage, which also ranks first and second in the nation, respectively.
Along with being an offensive juggernaut, Stanford is overall a very well-rounded team. Thanks to junior setter Kami Miner, who has shown why she’s the reigning Pac-12 Setter of the Year, the Cardinal’s offense is paced well by their passing unit. Stanford is collectively averaging 14.05 assists per set, the highest in the Pac-12 and the nation. Miner leads the way with 12.03 assists per set on the season, which also ranks highest in the Pac-12 and the nation. Defensively, Stanford is averaging almost three blocks per set with 2.84, ranking first in the Pac-12 and 12th in the nation. The blocking unit is highlighted by redshirt senior middle blocker McKenna Vicini, who is averaging 1.3 blocks per set, the fourth-highest in the Pac-12.
ASU’s match against Cal Friday will be held at Desert Financial Arena at 6 p.m. MST and can be viewed on ASU Live Stream, while Sunday’s contest against the Cardinal will be played at Mullett Arena at 1 p.m. MST on Pac-12 Arizona.
