Dawgs Visit Utes, Host Cougars To Cap Pac-12 Chase
November 25, 2015 | Volleyball
THIS WEEK IN HUSKY VOLLEYBALL
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25
#2 Washington at Utah • 3:00 pm PT
Salt Lake City, Utah • Huntsman Center
Live video on UtahUtes.com - Live Stats
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28
#2 Washington hosts Washington State • 8:00 pm
Alaska Airlines Arena
Live on Pac-12 Networks - Live Stats
SEATTLE - The chase for the Pac-12 title could come down to the final point this week, as the second-ranked Husky volleyball team needs two more wins to close the regular season strong, and to put the pressure on USC, which has a one-game lead over the Dawgs with two to play. Washington (26-2, 16-2 Pac-12) will focus on doing its part, traveling to Salt Lake City for its first and only meeting of the year with Utah (10-19, 4-14 Pac-12) this Wednesday. The Huskies will then enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday in Seattle and prepare for Senior Night festivities on Saturday night against Washington State (16-14, 5-13 Pac-12).
Wednesday's match will go off at 3:00 p.m. Pacific time, and will be available via a live stream only on UtahUtes.com. On Saturday, the regular season finale against the Cougars starts at 8:00 p.m. with the Huskies honoring six standout seniors prior to the match. Saturday's showdown with the Cougs will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.
The Pac-12 title is down to just the Trojans and Huskies, the top-two teams in the country in the AVCA Coaches Poll. Washington has been sitting one game behind the Trojans ever since dealing USC its first and only loss back on Oct. 30. Since then, neither team has suffered defeat. Two wins this week would give the Huskies an 18-2 conference record for the third year in a row. USC hosts 13th-ranked UCLA on Wednesday and then finishes its season hosting California on Friday.
This Sunday, Nov. 29, the Dawgs are fully expected to be selected to the NCAA Championships for the 14th consecutive season. The selection show will be on ESPNU starting at 6 p.m. Pacific time.
This final week of Pac-12 play brings up a first encounter for every team in the league, and for the Huskies this year that fresh face is Utah. The young Utes squad is led by a sophomore, Adora Anae, who ranks fourth in the Pac-12 in conference matches with 4.28 kills per set. In conference play, the Utes are hitting .158 and giving up a .226 mark, and Utah ranks 10th in blocks with 2.10 per set but sixth in digs at 15.30. Three of Utah's four Pac-12 wins have come at home, as they beat both Oregon schools and also won their Pac-12 opener against Colorado. Utah also won in five sets at California last week, and went five sets against Arizona on Nov. 12. Anae also leads the team with 3.35 digs per set in Pac-12 play, while Carly Trueman chips in 2.36 kills per set to rank second on the team. The Huskies suffered a five-set heartbreaker last season in Salt Lake City, but had won the previous nine meetings.
The Cougars have been a dangerous squad all year, as UW can attest after winning the Pac-12 opener in Pullman in a fifth set. WSU also took No. 1 USC to five sets but came up short. The Cougars have gone 2-6 over their past eight matches, but they have won at least one set in all eight matches, getting wins over Cal and Oregon State. In the match at Corvallis, Kyra Holt had 18 kills, and she leads the team and ranks sixth in the league with 3.98 kills per set, and is also fourth in aces with 0.32/set. Senior libero Kate Sommer averages 4.33 digs per set, ranking fifth, and freshman Claire Martin is one of the league's best blockers with 1.31 blocks per set. Haley MacDonald is fourth in the league with 10.25 assists per set as well. In conference play, WSU is hitting .161 with opponents averaging a .207 mark against them. WSU's block is second only to UW, averaging 2.93 blocks per set.
