(Photo via Marina Williams/WCSN)
Fresh off one of the most significant wins in recent program history against then-No. 5 Oregon, No. 17 Arizona State Volleyball (18-2, 6-2 Pac-12) looks to keep its momentum at an all-time high heading into another weekend on the road.
This time, the Sun Devils will head into the Rocky Mountains for the final time in the Pac-12 Conference to face Utah (8-10, 3-5 Pac-12) and Colorado (10-9, 2-6 Pac-12).
After its rollercoaster of a weekend last week in the Pacific Northwest, ASU remained in the AVCA top-25 and ascended in the rankings to a tie for No. 17 with Florida. This is now the highest the Sun Devils have been ranked since 2015, a year frequently mentioned as the Sun Devils’ last year of true success until now. ASU head coach JJ Van Niel is just the second first-year head coach in program history to have a ranked team, with the other being Debbie Brown in 1983. Her team was ranked for 11 weeks and got as high as No. 13.
ASU will begin its weekend play Friday night as it travels to Salt Lake City for the first time since 2021 to take on Utah. The Utes are coming into the weekend carrying a three-match losing streak, including a five-set loss to Washington last Sunday.
In addition, Utah’s offense has struggled to get off the ground in 2023, as it currently sits last in the conference in most offensive categories. With a low amount of total points and blocks, the Utes have fallen behind by large deficits consistently this season.
Nevertheless, Utah has had a few bright spots individually this season. Senior libero Vanessa Ramirez has consistently proven to be one of the toughest players at her position to play against, as she currently sits sixth in the Pac-12 in digs and averages 3.33 digs per set, the eighth-best mark in the conference. Sophomore setter Viktoria Wahlgren has also been making significant strides, collecting the eighth-most assists in the Pac-12.
ASU will then head to the state next door to battle with a Colorado squad that – similar to Utah – has had to grind through conference play and is coming off back-to-back sweeping losses at the Washington schools.
The Buffaloes have lost six of their last seven matches and have been dealing with the same offensive struggles as the Utes lately, having won just four sets in the previous three weeks.
However, Colorado has one eye-popping player to look out for in graduate middle blocker Skyy Howard, who has been one of the best, if not the best, at the position all season long on a national level. Howard leads the nation with 91 total blocks and averages 1.4 per set, which is also the nation’s best. It will be critical for the Sun Devils’ primary attackers to convert kills early against the dangerous net protector.
Ultimately, this weekend stands as an opportunity for ASU to continue pressuring the gas on struggling conference opponents and reach 20 wins for just the seventh time in program history. Friday’s matchup against Utah will start at 5 p.m. MST and can be viewed on the Pac-12 Network, and Sunday’s match against the Buffaloes will begin at 11 a.m. MST and can be seen on Pac-12 Arizona.
