The UCLA women’s volleyball team knows it can get the job done.
Beating the No. 1 team in the country will do that to you.
Now, the Bruins must move forward from their five-set victory over then-No. 1 Stanford while holding on to the momentum they gained.
“We need to retain the confidence from that win, but let the win go,” coach Mike Sealy said. “It’s one win, it was what it was. It shows that we can be great, it doesn’t mean we’re a great team.”
The Bruins’ win over the Cardinal on Saturday came after a four-set loss to California on Oct. 8. Though UCLA went 1-1 over the weekend, sophomore opposite Rachael Kidder had a career weekend. In the same way that the Bruins have a new confidence, Kidder does as well after posting a career high with 17 kills against California, and then topping that mark the next night with 25 against Stanford.
“Going from last year, not really having a role on the team, to starting and having a very big role, I mean, it’s a lot of pressure, but I think I can handle it,” Kidder said.
Kidder and No. 10 UCLA (12-4, 2-3 Pac-10) now travel to face Arizona and Arizona State tonight and Saturday, respectively. No. 25 Arizona (14-4, 3-2) has won its past four matches, and is coming off of wins against Oregon State and No. 17 Oregon. The Wildcats are led by senior outside hitter Tiffany Owens, who is averaging 3.74 kills per set.
Arizona State (6-11, 1-4) is 1-4 in its last five matches and will take on USC tonight before playing UCLA. Senior outside hitter Sarah Reaves leads the Sun Devils with 3.96 kills per set.
“They run a really fast offense,” junior setter Lauren Van Orden said of Arizona State. “Getting good touches on defense is going to be key for us again.”
Along with the defense, UCLA has been working on several parts of the game, which will help keep it in the hunt in a competitive Pac-10 conference.
“I think it’s important that we keep working on defense and passing because I think that’s going to really separate us and pull us away,” Van Orden said. “We’ve been working on a fast offense, we’re improving on that I think every day. But I think the main thing that’s going to keep us in is our will to win, our defense.”
The Bruins are riding a wave of confidence after their win, but they know the rest of the season is filled with more tests, which will come tonight and Saturday, and beyond.
“I think you’ve got to have a real short memory in this league,” Sealy said. “And you’ve got to focus match-to-match, and one amazing win does not (do) a whole lot. It’s just one win in the win column. The opponents are just too good … and there’s no lower teams, we’re one of those lower teams if you look at our record. Everybody’s dangerous on any night.”