On September 16, the Arizona State women’s volleyball team upset then No.17 Santa Clara in five sets.
The victory marked win No. 700 in program history and was the first marquee win under new Head Coach Stevie Mussie.
That game is now a distant memory as the Sun Devils have dropped their past six matches and currently sit in the basement of the Pac-12 standings with an 0-4 record in conference play.
In an attempt to end the losing streak, the Sun Devils are back on the road at USC.
The Trojans are currently 10-5 and 2-2 in the Pac-12 after winning their previous two matches.
ASU will have its hands full with a balanced USC offense that has an average attacking percentage of .246.
More from Devils in Detail
- Sun Devils Primer: Game 2 vs Oklahoma State
- Sun Devil Insight: Quarterback Room
- Arizona State Spotlight: Kenny Dillingham
- Arizona State 2023 Season Opener: Off To A Good Start
- Arizona State vs USC Prediction and Promo (Expect Offensive Fireworks)
Leading the USC attack is their two-setter combination of senior Alice Pizzasegola and junior Reni Meyer-Whalley who have combined for 549 total assists in 2016.
Earlier in the season, injuries to ASU setter Caroline Pearson and outside hitters Ivana Jeremic and Lexi MacLean left the team lacking arms.
Now that ASU is healthier, there is no excuse why the team should’t be competing.
Following a loss to Oregon, Mussie bluntly stated that her club was not ready to compete at a high level.
With an 0-4 record in the conference, ASU doesn’t have much more time to turn things around.
To defeat USC, the team will need a big showing from junior Oluoma Okaro.
In her first season with the Sun Devils, Okaro has been ASU’s best player, registering 174 kills, 75 blocks and 27 service aces.
Next: ASU Volleyball: Arizona State Struggles as Oregon State Cruises to Victory
With the season starting to slip away, it is now or never for the Sun Devils.
ASU will play at the Galen Center at 7 p.m. and the match will be available on Pac-12 Networks.