(Photo: Jacob Franklin/WCSN)
The Arizona State Sun Devils enter their match against No. 18 UCLA desperately needing a win having lost their last seven matches.
ASU fell to 0-5 in Pac-12 play with a loss to No. 22 USC on Wednesday. The Sun Devils managed to come away with only a third set victory as they lost in four.
As a team, they hit at under .200 in the sets they lost, but in the third, they hit .341. They need to showcase the production they proved they are capable of if they want to compete against ranked opponent.
The Sun Devils were able to improve from the match against the Beavers, which included multiple season-lows.
However, freshman outside hitter Ivana Jeremic and sophomore outside hitter Lexi MacLean did have bounce back games against the Trojans with 10 kills each. They will be looking to carry that momentum over to Pasadena.
Freshman setter Nicole Peterson started her first college match against the Trojans and finished with 20 assists, six digs, and one ace.
Five Sun Devils are averaging over two kills per set (minimum of two sets played), led by senior outside hitter Cassidy Pickrell at 2.88.
The most obvious area for improvement is on the back line. In Pac-12 play, the Sun Devils have the worst service efficiency with 44 errors and only 12 aces.
Junior middle blocker Oluoma Okaro is the only saving grace putting up four of the aces against conference opponents.
UCLA is ranked No. 18 in the most recent Top 25 poll – a six spot drop from the week before. This was despite sweeping Utah and a four-set loss to No. 19 Colorado.
The Bruins were projected to finish second in the conference. They have a conference record of 2-2 going into the game against Arizona State.
Their stars know what it takes to defeat the Sun Devils. Last season, UCLA senior middle blockers Claire Felix and Jennie Frager combined for 23 kills and 0 errors. Both have been performing very well in their senior season and hitting over .300 against Pac-12 opponents.
They have a strong offense, but the Bruins’ defense is the main ingredient in their recipe for success.
In conference play, UCLA is first in assists (13.63) and digs (18.06) per set – both top seven in the country.
In ten of the Bruins’ wins, they have held their opponents under .200. This gives their offense the ability to make mistakes and still have time to bounce back.
Two of the Bruins’ three losses have come when they lost the opening set. The Arizona State defense and blockers will need to step up right away to provide that same cushion for their offensive attackers in order to come away with the win.
If ASU does not kick start its offense until the third of fourth set, it will be all too late to come away with their first Pac-12 victory.
The match will air on the Pac-12 Network and first serve is scheduled at 7 p.m. PT.
