This weekend, Utah is back on the road after finishing a two-game stint at home. This time, the Utes will be traveling to Pullman, Wash. to face off against Washington State in a Pac-12 contest.
In the history between these two teams, the Cougars own a series advantage of 12-7, but the Utes have gone 5-3 in matches since Utah joined the Pac-12. Utah hopes to maintain that success in conference play against the Cougars, and the Utes will be looking to go 2-0 in Pac-12 play on the season.
Utah is coming off of a 3-1 victory over Colorado at the Huntsman Center on Wednesday, Sept. 23. The game was marked by increased consistency by a majority of the team’s players. Four players recorded nine or more kills, and the team played solid defense and performed well when the game was close.
This was a great improvement over the Utes’ loss against BYU, when they dropped three straight sets without putting up much of a fight. Head coach Beth Launier knows how important the win that started out Pac-12 play was for the team.
“They are all tough teams [in the Pac-12] , so every win is good,” she said.
Heading to Washington, the Utes will face a team that is playing very well right now. The Cougars are on an 11-game winning streak, including a 3-0 mark when playing at home. Kyra Holt leads the Cougars with 4.55 kills per set, a mark that puts her at second in the Pac-12.
Washington State as a team is third in the Pac-12 in opponent hitting percentages, holding their opponents to a .137 mark. The Utes will need to continue their team success in the offensive department to get past the Cougar’s tough defense.
One of the surprises in Utah’s win over Colorado was freshman Berkeley Oblad. She was inserted into the starting lineup after some great play against BYU and definitely proved her worth in the Pac-12 opener. She recorded 11 kills and four blocks and brought energy onto the court with every play.
Oblad is one of many young players on this Ute team who is being asked to fill different roles on a nightly basis. Launiere stressed how important this is.
“So many players are learning how to handle their roles on the team,” Launiere said. “Their roles are so different [on a nightly basis]. It’s not necessarily the passing and hitting. It’s the roles. They are really starting to come into their own.”
Tinkering with the lineup with Pac-12 play having started might scare some fans, especially with such a young and inexperienced team. It might be tough to find a rhythm from game to game, but Amy Gant, a Pac-12 volleyball analyst, sees it differently.
“It’s not unusual to still be finding the best combination on the floor,” Gant said. “[Coach Launiere] always finds a way to get the best out of her players. She’s taking a look at the long view to where they will be in November.”
Launiere knows she will need to find the best rotation so her team will be ready come November when the NCAA Tournament starts up and teams are playing for a berth at the biggest stage. Undoubtedly, Launiere will still be experimenting during this trip to Washington.
The match against Washington State starts at 8 p.m. MT on Saturday.
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