The Utes will be traveling to Arizona for two Pac-12 matches in the desert. They will first take on Arizona State on Friday at 7 p.m. MT and then have a day off before finishing the weekend with a match against Arizona on Sunday at noon.
The Sun Devils have a good record on paper, but they haven’t played well recently. They are currently ranked No. 13 in the nation by the AVCA poll, but this is after a major fall. The team climbed its way to the fifth spot in the rankings on Oct. 5 but have lost four straight matches in recent weeks. They are currently 4-4 in Pac-12 play and have only won one set in their losing streak.
That said, the Sun Devils are still a tough team. Macey Gardner leads the team with 3.73 kills per set and was named the Player of the Week in the entirety of Division I volleyball last week. Arizona State is only hitting at a .222 percentage, but its real strength lies in its defense. ASU ranks in the top-five in the Pac-12 in digs (14.80/set), opponent hitting percentage (.152) and blocks (2.93/set).
Utah’s other opponent in Arizona is another team that is highly ranked (No. 14) but hasn’t played well recently. The Wildcats are 3-5 in Pac-12 play and have lost three of their last four games. This team is still dangerous and has many players who are capable of stepping up at any moment.
Arizona is third in the Pac-12 in kills with 14.34 per set and is led by Kalei Mau, who averages 4.71 kills per set alone. The Wildcats are also fourth in the league in assists per set with Penina Snuka leading the way with 10.97 assists per set. Halli Amaro and McKenzie Jacobson have 70 and 67 blocks on the season respectively, forming a solid defensive front for the team.
Utah head coach Beth Launiere had a simple response when asked about what she wants her team to accomplish on this road trip to Arizona.
“As always, to get a win,” Launiere said.
The Utes will need contributions across the board if they hope to stay competitive and break their current seven-game losing streak.
For the most part in recent games, the only consistent contributor has been Adora Anae. In the team’s most recent game against California, Anae recorded 27 kills — breaking her own school record for kills in a match — and 25 digs. Jessie Jorgensen spoke about her teammate’s play.
“She’s a reliable player,” Jorgensen said. “She just goes out and does work, and that’s how it works out for her.”
Jorgensen herself has played well as of late. She has assumed the main setter duties for Utah, surpassing Kendall Cygan in playing time, and recorded 54 assists in that match against Cal. It was the first time since McKenzie Odale in 2012 that a Ute surpassed 50 or more digs.
Apart from those two, there haven’t been any other huge impact players for the Utes recently. Utah will need some more players to step up and help break the team out of its current rut. Whether it is freshman Berkeley Oblad, sophomore Eliza Katoa or any of the many other capable players on the team, the Utes need more players to help carry the load.
If the Utes don’t pick up their quality of play, they will fall further behind in the Pac-12. As it currently sits, Utah is 1-7 in conference play and hopes of a NCAA Tournament berth are becoming very slim.
“When you get into situations like this, all you can do is keep your head down and keep working,” Launiere said. “Honestly, the team is very focused … As long as we keep doing the work, it’ll come.”
Even if the team can only come away with one win in the desert this weekend, that may be enough to end the drought for the Utes.
g.hanson@dailyutahchronicle,com
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