(Photo: Noah Findling/WCSN)
No. 1: Stanford (last week: No. 1), 16-0 (6-0)
The Cardinal downed both Arizona schools in four sets this weekend to stay perfect on the season and stay atop the AVCA rankings. Against the No. 16 Wildcats, four Stanford attackers racked up double-digit kills at an efficient .408 clip. Junior outside hitter Jordan Burgess had herself a career-high 19 kills in Tucson to lead the Cardinal. Against the No. 17 Sun Devils, Stanford got out to a slow start, dropping the first set in Tempe, but they would storm back to take the following three sets behind the strong effort from junior middle blocker Inky Ajanaku, who tallied 14 kills and four blocks. Stanford is on their best start since 2007, and they will look to improve on that as they travel once again to battle Colorado and Utah.
No. 3: Washington (last week: No. 3), 17-0 (6-0)
Washington kept pace with Stanford, staying undefeated on the season after road victories against No. 10 Oregon and Oregon State. Against the Beavers, senior outside hitter Krista Vansant posted her third career 20-20 with 26 kills and 24 digs to pace the Huskies. She would add onto that performance against the Ducks, putting up 16 kills and 16 digs to go along with a career-high seven blocks. Her outstanding play earned her Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors. The weekly honor was the ninth time she had been nominated, which ties a Pac-12 record. Vansant and the Huskies are 5-0 against ranked teams this season, and they will look to keep that record perfect as they travel to face off against No. 16 Arizona and No. 17 Arizona State this weekend.
No. 10: Oregon (last week: 11), 14-2 (4-2)
After dropping Washington State in four sets, the Ducks came out strong against the unbeaten Huskies. Junior outside hitter Martenne Bettendorf led the Oregon attack, racking up nine kills in the first set en route to a career high 17 kills for the match. However, it was not enough, as Washington took control of the next three sets to stay perfect on the season. Oregon continues to climb the rankings, however, and will seek two more victories over ranked opponents when they travel to Los Angeles, Calif., this weekend to take on No. 18 USC and No. 19 UCLA.
No. 16: Arizona (last week: 16), 15-3 (4-2)
After sweeping the unranked California Bears, Arizona took on No. 1 Stanford. Despite taking the first set, the Wildcats failed to remain composed, according to head coach Dave Rubio, and dropped the ensuing three sets. Senior outside hitter Madi Kingdon once again led Arizona’s offense, putting down 22 kills, but it was not enough as her team, who leads the Pac-12 in digs, was outdug 69-59. The Wildcats will look to bounce back this weekend when they host Washington State and No. 3 Washington to Tucson.
No. 17: Arizona State (last week: 18), 13-5 (3-3)
The Sun Devils started the weekend strongly, beating California in four sets behind a career high 16-dig, 17-kill performance from sophomore outside hitter Kizzy Willey. They carried the momentum into the first set against No. 1 Stanford, taking the first set as the Cardinal struggled to find their rhythm. However, their efforts fell short, and ASU lost the next three sets. The Sun Devils were still without the services of junior middle blocker Whitney Follette, but she did participate in practice last week and was a game-time decision in both matches last weekend. ASU also saw junior outside hitter Macey Gardner move up to a tie for No. 8 on ASU’s all-time career kills list (1,360), and Gardner will seek to climb that list when ASU hosts No. 3 Washington and Washington State this weekend in Tempe.
No. 18: Southern California (last week: 20), 10-6 (3-3)
The Women of Troy are beginning to regain their form behind the outstanding efforts of junior outside hitter Samantha Bricio. The 6-foot-2 attacker racked up 14 and 23 kills against Colorado and Utah respectively. Those numbers, along with another dominating performance from the service line earned Bricio Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honors as well as the spot on top of USC’s career service aces list with 182 aces, including a career and school high eight against Colorado. Sophomore libero Taylor Whittingham also contributed a career-best 29 digs against the Buffaloes. USC seeks their third and fourth-straight wins when they host No. 10 Oregon and Oregon State into the Galen Center this weekend.
No. 19: UCLA (last week: 17), 12-5 (3-3)
UCLA dropped two spots in this week’s rankings after outlasting Utah in five sets but dropping their match with Colorado in four at home. Karsta Lowe continued her hot offensive pace, racking up a career-high 30 kills against Utah, becoming the first Bruin to tally 30 kills since Rachael Kidder in 2011. Her 21 kills against Colorado were not enough, however, and no other UCLA attacker had more than 11 kills for the match. The Bruins continue their homestand this weekend, hosting No. 10 Oregon and Oregon State.
Unranked:
California: 8-8 (0-6)
Colorado: 11-7 (3-3)
Oregon State: 13-4 (3-3)
Utah: 11-6 (1-5)
Washington State: 9-9 (0-6)
