A homecoming just might be what the ASU volleyball team (10-8, 1-4 Pac-10) needs to get back on the right track.
The Sun Devils return home this weekend to counter a duo of Pac-10 Conference powers, No. 11 USC (9-5, 2-3) and No. 10 UCLA (12-4, 2-3) after three straight road games to ranked opponents.
ASU has dug itself into a hole in conference play, dropping four of its last five games. The losses have dropped the team into a tie with Oregon State for eighth in the Pac-10.
“I felt like we have been playing well, but we have run into some tough teams,” coach Jason Watson said. “The challenge is to identify where we are getting some return when it is not showing up in the win column.”
But Watson and the team say they are optimistic about their position in the Pac-10 standings and believe playing at home will help give the team a boost.
“We have done well here at home,” Watson said. “It is a nice place for us to be and we are happy to be back.”
ASU enters Friday’s game against USC with a 6-2 home record.
Despite the team’s affinity for playing at home, the opposition poses another difficult test for the Sun Devils. Both opponents hold height advantages over ASU.
“Both teams this weekend are physically opposing teams,” Watson said. “Size is definitely an advantage for them.”
USC enters the game with a 35-9 all-time record against ASU.
The Trojans feature a youthful team this season. This is the first season since 1999 that no seniors are the listed on the roster.
Leading the attack for USC will be two talented freshmen, outside hitter Alex Jupiter and setter Taylor Carico.
Jupiter leads the team with 184 kills while Carico has amassed 522 assists.
The challenge continues Saturday night as the Trojans’ rival, UCLA, comes into town. The Bruins have dominated ASU throughout the past and lead the overall series 40-4.
The UCLA offense will be led by their senior setter Nellie Spicer. She recorded 61 assists against Washington last weekend, giving her 10th career 60-plus assist game.
Watson has told the team to stay positive and to keep working hard.
“We just need to get better at we what we are doing,” Watson said. “We need to keep grinding away.”
Reach the reporter at ryan.campbell@asu.edu.
