ASU Volleyball: Sun Devils to Face No. 18 UCLA
By Zach Pekale
In an effort to end their seven-game losing streak, the Arizona State women’s volleyball team heads to Pauley Pavilion for a matchup with the No. 18 UCLA Bruins.
Following a promising 7-3 start, ASU has lost its footing and currently sits at the bottom of the Pac-12 standings.
UCLA is 11-3 with a 2-2 record in conference but has lost three of its past seven matches.
In order to compete, ASU will need a balanced attack led by San Francisco transfer Oluoma Okaro.
The junior middle blocker has been a standout for the Sun Devils in her first season in the Pac-12, leading ASU in blocks, service aces and attacking percentage while ranking second on the team in kills.
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Many of the Sun Devils’s previous losses can be attributed to a low season attacking percentage and a high number of attacking errors.
After only recording 17 offensive errors against USC, the Sun Devils need to carry that momentum going forward.
Defensively, the Sun Devils lack the height that UCLA possesses and will need to strategize effectively to limit the number of kills they allow.
Bruins senior middle blocker Jenny Frager could be in for a big game against ASU.
The Rancho Santa Fe native has 128 kills on the season with a .372 attacking percentage. At 6’5″, she also leads UCLA in blocks with 59.
Frager is one of three Bruins with over 120 kills this year, meaning ASU will have to make adjustments to alter a balanced UCLA attack.
Next: ASU Volleyball: Free Fall Continues Against USC
ASU will have a chance to end its losing streak at 7 p.m. on Friday. This match will be available on Pac-12 Networks.