Sports fans are in for a treat this Friday at Pauley Pavilion when the UCLA women’s volleyball team hosts USC. Two top-five teams, a crosstown rivalry and the first conference home game since the school year began will make this week’s match one not to miss.
No. 4 USC and No. 5 UCLA come into the match-up in similar situations and look evenly matched on paper. Both teams hold 3-1 conference records in the early Pac-10 season, and both squads lost to No. 2 Stanford in straight sets last weekend. The Bruins and Trojans are also in a three-way tie with Oregon for third place in the Pac-10.
Both schools have beaten nonconference teams Utah, Cal State Northridge and UC Irvine.
The similarities continue with their styles of play.
The Bruins and the Trojans are led by strong outside hitters and are currently playing solid defense. UCLA is ranked first in the Pac-10 for average digs per game, while USC is ranked third.
While it is said that anything goes in rivalry games, UCLA is aware of the close competition the team may face on Friday.
According to junior outside hitter Ali Daley, the Bruins are expecting both sides to play with an intense attitude and are anticipating long rallies.
“I think that it’s going to be a tough match, and we are going to go neck and neck,” Daley said. “It’s going it come down to who is more in shape and just who is more prepared for the other.”
The Trojans are led by senior outside hitter Diane Copenhagen and senior opposite hitter Asia Kaczor. Freshman Kimmee Roleder has also contributed to the offense in the outside hitter position. Sophomore setter Taylor Carico charges the offense, currently averaging 12.15 assists per game.
The Bruins came out victorious against the Trojans last year, sweeping the season series. Before those two wins, UCLA had dropped 11 straight matches to USC. In terms of the long-time rivalry between the two teams, UCLA leads the series 52-47.
While last season’s victories over the Trojans were important at the time, Friday’s match serves its own crucial purposes. First, since UCLA and USC have had similar seasons thus far and hold even records, a win over the Trojans would push the Bruins ahead in the Pac-10 standings. This will be significant later as the season progresses.
USC and UCLA have also been ranked No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, in the AVCA Division I Coaches Poll since the end of August. Friday’s match will give the Bruins the chance to take control of their own national ranking and reverse the order.
“It will be a big confidence booster for us if we are able to pull this one out,” junior setter Nellie Spicer said.
And as always, the Bruins and Trojans are playing for bragging rights.
“USC is our most intense match because we share the city and we recruit the same kids,” said coach Andy Banachowski. “So there is always a lot riding when we play. The wins and losses are the same, but pride and prestige are on the line, too.”
Spicer, who is from Illinois, said she did not realize how huge the rivalry between UCLA and USC was when she first arrived to play for the Bruins two years ago. However, she has learned to understand the deep rivalry between the two Los Angeles schools. To her, it does not matter how USC’s season is going ““ she is going to take the game seriously.
“With ‘SC you get fired up no matter what. They could be ranked 1 or 25 and, no matter what, if it’s ‘SC you are going to play to the best you can,” Spicer said.
On top of the effort the team is putting into preparing for the match, the Bruins acknowledge the role that UCLA fans have on the game atmosphere. Last season, 4,639 people showed up to Pauley Pavilion to see UCLA finish USC off in three straight games.
“The matches we had last year when the students came out in full force, the atmosphere was tremendous,” Banachowski said. “I would like to see another 1,000 students come out because they are the rowdiest.”