VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW: Ducks head to Arizona to face desert schools

By Mario Ponce

EUGENE, Ore. -- The sixth-ranked Oregon Ducks volleyball team (22-5) will travel this weekend to the Copper State to take on the 18th-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils (24-4) and the Arizona Wildcats (8-9) to keep their momentum as they close out their regular season. Oregon hosted both schools in October, beating the Wildcats 3-0 and losing to the Sun Devils in a 3-0 sweep.

Oregon Ducks

The Ducks have had a great season under Matt Ulmer. They’ve played especially well away, with their record as 10-1 on away games and 6-1 in neutral venues. Their challenge this season has been playing ranked opponents, as four of their five losses have come against teams sharing the table. Seeing as Arizona State has a ranking, we’ll have to see how the Ducks do against them. Oregon’s last two games were another away trip to the Bay Area, with the team falling in five sets to the Stanford Cardinal and then they beat the California Golden Bears in five.

Arizona State Sun Devils

The Sun Devils have also enjoyed a successful season. They are tied with the Ducks in the Pac-12 standings at 12-4 and have played some great volleyball. Their biggest challenge this season has been conference play, as all their losses have been against Pac-12 opponents after a perfect out of conference schedule. Their last two games were a home series in which they beat the Colorado Buffaloes 3-1 and swept the Utah Utes 3-0.

Arizona Wildcats

This has been a difficult season for the Wildcats, who sit at the bottom of the Pac-12 standings with a conference record of 3-13. Their big challenge this season has been away games, as their record there is 1-10. At home, they’ve been better with a record of 6-7, and as they host the Ducks, they look to continue the run they started in their last two games. These were home games in which they defeated the Utah Utes 3-1 and outlasted the Colorado Buffaloes to win 3-2.

Prediction

I expect the Ducks to win both games if they play as they have all season. The Sun Devils are a formidable opponent, as they gave the team one of its rare losses at Matthew Knight Arena last month, but I think Oregon will win in a 3-2 thriller. The Wildcats have momentum on their side, but I think Oregon will be too much for them and will win 3-1 on Sunday.