Volleyball to take on Oregon and Oregon State in Pacific Northwest

The Arizona State Sun Devil Women’s Volleyball Team (10-10 overall, 1-6 Pac-10) hit the high road again this weekend as they take to the Pacific Northwest again to take on the seventh-ranked Oregon Ducks (15-4 overall, 4-3 Pac-10) on Friday, October 24 and the 24th-ranked Oregon State Beavers (13-7 overall, 2-5 Pac-10) on Saturday, October 25. Both matches kick-off at 7 p.m. PT.

Recapping Last Weekend:

Against #14 USC:
USC came out for a tough first set, hitting .375 as they caught the Sun Devils off-guard taking a 25-13 win before ASU came right back at the Women of Troy in the second set hitting .250 and shutting down the USC attack with two blocks with an 83 sideout percentage to take game two 25-18. Game three proved to be crucial as it swung the momentum of the match with the Sun Devils leading through a good portion of it. In the end, ASU ran out of gas after 10 tie scores and three lead changes, falling in a tough 25-23 set. The Sun Devils hung tough in game four but the effort wasn’t enough as USC finished the match with a 25-22 win.

Against #10 UCLA:
The Bruins came out with a nearly flawless first set, hitting an outstanding .514 in the first set with a 88% sideout percentage, while ASU hit solid, they couldn’t keep up with the Bruin assault, falling 25-17. Set two the Sun Devils put it together as they capitalized on a rare 10-error UCLA set, pushing six tie scores and three lead changes, but the Bruin just barely bested the Sun Devils in a tough 27-25 loss. UCLA came out to hit .395 in set three to replay the 25-17 win in the fi rst set with the same in the third to finish the match.

Scouting This Weekend’s Competition/Series History:

#7 Oregon Ducks:
The Oregon Ducks rolled into the 2008 season after a memorable 2007 which saw them advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in program history. In the season they went 22-11 overall and 9-9 in conference play. The best part for the Ducks was returning nearly their entire team and entire starting line-up, giving them strength and experience this year.

Last weekend against the Washington schools, Oregon broke even, losing to Washington in five games before sweeping away Washington State in a quick three.

ASU’s all-time history against Oregon is a bit in the favor of ASU, who lead the series 35-9, they lead the series in Oregon at McArthur Court 16-6.

#24 Oregon State Beavers:
The Beavers entered the 2008 season after a tough 2007 season which saw them go 10-20 overall, but like their Eugene counterparts they have returned five starters and a libero and have battled their way all the way into the rankings as they currently hold a 13-7 record overall and a 3-4 record in the powerful Pac-10.

All time against the Beavers is a another one that ASU holds the reigns on with a 30-14 record against OSU with a 14-8 record against them on their own home floor.