The 2010 season draws to a close this weekend for the ASU women’s volleyball team, but not before matchups against a pair of national championship contenders.
The Sun Devils (12-17, 6-10 Pac-10) travel to Northern California to compete against No. 2 California and No. 4 Stanford.
The Golden Bears (24-2, 14-2) host ASU on Wednesday night at Haas Pavilion. After an off day on Thursday, the Sun Devils then take on the Cardinal (22-3, 13-3) on Friday night at Maples Pavilion.
After struggling on the road at times this season, the Sun Devils have adopted an optimistic attitude heading into their final weekend.
“Playing on the road is always difficult, but I think we’ve come a long way this season,” senior libero Sarah Johnson said. “Cal and Stanford have always been really good teams. Going to these games, we have nothing to lose but to go out on top.”
With both teams holding top-five rankings and inside tracks to the NCAA Tournament, ASU coach Jason Watson said he would not be shocked to see either team celebrating a championship in December.
“I think both of those two programs have legitimate shots to winning a national championship this year depending on where they get seeded and health,” Watson said. “It would not surprise me if both of those teams not only made it to the Final Four, but one of them actually won it.”
The Golden Bears enter tonight’s match in the midst of a four-match winning streak and in sole possession of first place in the Pac-10. Last weekend, Cal defeated Stanford 3-1 for the second time this season.
Behind Cal’s success is senior setter Carli Lloyd who has amassed 5,367 career assists. Lloyd also earned her 1,000th career dig in last week’s match against Stanford.
“One of the things that make that whole thing run is Carli Lloyd,” Watson said. “I think if she’s not Pac-10 player of the year, it’s probably between her and [Alix] Klineman who we get to play on Friday. She keeps them going, she keeps them in system. Even when you get that hitter out of system, she’s athletic enough to keep them in system.”
Stanford senior outside hitter Alix Klineman continues to lead the way for the Cardinal on offense.
Klineman, a three time All-American, is the leading active Pac-10 player in kills with 1,893.
In its opening match of Pac-10 play, ASU lost 1-3 to the Cardinal at Wells Fargo Arena. The Sun Devils managed to win the first set, which was their first set win over Stanford in six years.
“I thought we hung in there with them,” Watson said. “We were pretty patient. We created opportunities for ourselves to score some points. I hope we can stay in system. If we can get on the road and take care of the ball and pass serve well, we can exploit some things.”
Although both Cal and Stanford have been nearly perfect on their home courts, the Sun Devils remain confident in their desire to end the season on a high note.
“I don’t think anybody is going to say we can’t win or anything,” junior setter Cat Highmark said. “We are going to go out and fight until the end of the season.”
Reach the reporter at gregory.dillard@asu.edu
