(Photo via Reece Andrews/WCSN)
Arizona State women’s volleyball is finally returning home after going 6-7 in their last five-weeks on the road. The Sun Devils open up their first home conference games against UCLA on Friday at 7 p.m. MST and USC on Sunday at 1 p.m. MST.
To end its road trip, ASU faced both Oregon schools, losing in three sets to Oregon but coming out on top at Oregon State in five sets. In the latter match, senior setter Shannon Shields had the best statistical match of her career, recording 50 assists and 10 digs. She had taken the backseat to junior setter Ella Snyder this season up until the last game, where Snyder did not see the floor the whole night.
Senior outside hitter Iman Isanovic, who continues to be the household name for ASU, has recorded double-digit kills in 12 out of the 16 games played this year. Isanovic, currently 13th all-time in career kills at 1,175, can potentially surpass Terri Cox this weekend, who stands at 1,185 all-time.
The Sun Devils have struggled so far in Pac-12 Conference play in the first set, having yet to win any first set up to this point. It should be interesting to see if the problem continues this weekend, as playing catch-up at home isn’t ideal.
UCLA has yet to win a conference game this season (6-7, 0-4 Pac-12) and is currently on a five-match losing streak. ASU has been the more dominant offensive team, with the trio of Isanovic, junior outside hitter Marta Levinska and sophomore outside hitter Geli Cyr almost all having more kills on the season than any of the Bruins. Senior outside hitter Élan McCall has recorded 134 kills for UCLA, while Isanovic and Levinska have 204 and 193 kills each. Cyr barely trails McCall with 133 kills. Last season, ASU went 1-1 in its matchups against the Bruins, winning in a thrilling reverse sweep at home in the first meeting but falling in three sets in Los Angeles.
While UCLA may be a lesser opponent, USC (11-4, 3-1 Pac 12) will definitely present a challenge for the Sun Devils. The Trojans have wins against both Colorado and Utah, the former of which swept ASU earlier this season. If the Sun Devils hope to have a sparring chance against the Trojans, they will need to handle the powerhouse senior transfer from Texas, outside hitter Skylar Fields. Fields is currently ranked 13th nationally in kills with 259.
ASU has struggled in service this season, totaling 107 service errors so far. The Trojans are first in the Pac-12 in aces, averaging two per set. The Sun Devils have not won a match against USC since 2018, where they won in four sets to the 14th-ranked Trojans.
