Photo by Sam RosenbaumThe Sun Devils will participate in the five-team UCI/LMU Dual Classic against Colgate, Loyola Marymount University, and UC Irvine.
Although No. 1 Nebraska is also in the tournament, ASU will not face them this weekend.
It will be a great chance for the team build on its strong start and continue the winning streak.
“Last weekend was great, but it’s over,” junior libero Stephanie Preach said. “We have a brand new three teams, we have to take every team and treat them like they’re the best team we’re ever going to play.”
On Friday morning, ASU will go up against co-host UCI in Irvine, Calif., to start off the tournament. The Anteaters have gotten off to a slow start to their season, dropping two of their three games last weekend to Pac-12 member Oregon State and No. 22 Kansas State. The Sun Devils are 3-0 all-time vs. UCI with the most recent game being a 3-2 victory in 2008.
ASU will then take on Colgate in its second match of the tournament on Friday night. It will be the first ever match-up between the two schools and an even match as well as Colgate only has one senior and relies on its younger players to contribute, similar to ASU’s squad. The Raiders are off to a rough start to their season as they went 0-3 in their own tournament, the Colgate Classic, last weekend.
The final game of the weekend will come on Saturday afternoon, as the Sun Devils will face co-host LMU. The Lions are coming into the tournament off a loss in the DoubleTree Los Angeles Westside Invitational final to UC Santa Barbara. Saturday will be the ninth ever match-up between the programs with the series tied at 4-4. ASU has won the last four meetings, with the most recent being a sweep over the Lions in 2009.
“No matter what happens this weekend, we’re going to have a fun time and we’re going to learn a lot about our team,” freshman outside hitter Macey Gardner said. “So either way, it’s going to be good, it’s just nice to start off with an undefeated season.”
After a double-header Friday in Irvine, the Sun Devils take the hour drive north to Los Angeles to take on LMU.
Yet, that isn’t one of the biggest concerns facing the team this weekend.
With five of its players coming from Southern California and a lot of people coming to watch, coach Jason Watson is interested to see if the team “can handle that distraction.”
Reach the reporter at talopez3@asu.edu
