After traveling out west to take on two Oregon teams, the Utes will stay in the comfort of their own gym this weekend while two California teams come to the Huntsman.
Since the team is coming off two close losses, this weekend will be a challenge. Adora Anae, one of Utah’s young leaders, saw that the Utes weren’t disappointed with the losses, but were rather motivated to get better.
“We were determined to get back in the gym to work on the things we need to work on so we can finish,” Anae said.
Anae added a few specific points that the team was looking to improve during the course of practices over the week.
“Individually, we need to just be prepared in our spots and our positions,” Anae said. “We need to execute the game plan and be aggressive at the net.”
Even after the tough losses, head coach Beth Launiere was excited by what she saw from her team.
“I’m really encouraged with our team,” Launiere said. “Everybody in our program feels like we are playing with a flow and confidence. Everybody is starting to get better, and everything is starting to come together.”
The Utes will need to come together as they face two of the best squads in the entire country and hope to emerge victorious so they can stay afloat in the tough Pac-12 conference.
The Utes will first face off against UCLA, a top-15 team in the latest AVCA poll. Utah is only 2-16 against the Bruins all-time but hopes it can add to its win column while snapping UCLA’s perfect record in road games this season. The Bruins rank in the top 5 in the Pac-12 in four different categories — kills, assists, digs and service aces. UCLA’s Jordan Anderson is second in the Pac-12 with 4.80 kills a set, and the Bruins have two capable setters in Zana Muno and Ryann Chandler, both of whom are averaging more than eight assists per set.
One aspect of the Bruins’ game the Utes can look to exploit is their low hitting percentage. UCLA is eighth in the Pac-12, hitting at a .232 percentage, which is not terrible but is one of the few visible weaknesses of this California squad. The Utes will need to step up and play a strong, well-rounded game if they stand any chance of competing.
Sunday afternoon the Utes will take on the top team in the country, USC. The Utes have only ever won two games against USC, one of which came last season. The Trojans are one of only three teams in the country with a perfect record, and the Utes will look to hand them their first loss. USC is led by Samantha Bricio, of whom Launiere spoke highly during practice over the week.
“Bricio is very possibly the best outside hitter in the country,” Launiere said. “Possibly the best player in the country.”
Bricio is averaging 5.06 kills per set, leading the Pac-12 and ranking fourth in the country in this regard, and 0.81 aces per set, which tops the nation, but she isn’t the only star player for USC. Alicia Ogoms is second in the country with 1.76 blocks per set and is second in the Pac-12 with a .419 hitting percentage.
The game against UCLA will start at 6 p.m. on Friday, while the first serve for the match against USC is slated for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
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