As the UCLA women’s volleyball team travels up the coast of California to the Bay Area, two Pac-12 opponents of a different caliber will be awaiting its arrival.
In a weekend-long doubleheader matchup between the nation’s best team, the Stanford Cardinal (18-0, 8-0 Pac-12), and a struggling California Golden Bears squad (8-11, 0-9) that has yet to record a Pac-12 victory in nine conference games this season, the Bruins are tasked with rising to face the best, then turning around to the worst.
Yet, if the Bruins are to sweep the weekend and notch two road victories under their belt, they can’t really think differently of either.
Hidden away from the drastic discrepancies between Cal and Stanford’s Pac-12 records lies a truth every women’s volleyball team in the Pac-12 faces week after week – every team has the potential to win.
With six of the nation’s top 25 teams emerging from the Pac-12, more than any other conference in the country, competition is stiff. This season, the Bruins learned that the hard way, dropping a home matchup against unranked Colorado (12-8, 4-4) just two weeks ago.
Friday evening in Palo Alto will possibly prove to be the toughest match UCLA has encountered thus far this season where it will have to face an undefeated Stanford in an imposing visitor’s atmosphere.
Where UCLA won’t be exposed, however, is in its offensive attack. Senior outside hitter Karsta Lowe continues to lead the country in kills per set and is just a week removed from her career-best performance, where she recorded 33 kills in a four-set match against then-No. 10 Oregon.
Along with Lowe, fellow senior setter Julie Consani tops the national stat sheets in another category, where she leads all of Division I in assists per set with a mark of 11.9.
In order for UCLA to emerge victorious, a strong performance from the country’s best attacking combo of Lowe and Consani will need to be put on display.
Not to be lost in the frenzy of Friday’s marquee matchup is a matchup against a lackluster Cal squad.
Rounding out the bottom of the Pac-12 rankings, the Golden Bears have yet to record a win since starting conference play in late September.
Prior to its nine straight losses, Cal began the season on a strong note, forging an 8-2 record, and has still shown flashes of its talent, bringing a then-No. 4 Washington team all the way to a fifth set.
For the UCLA women’s volleyball team, a weekend in Northern California facing the Pac-12’s pacesetting team, along with its worst team, in such close proximity will be a test.
Bruins coming home
On Oct. 31, the UCLA women’s volleyball team will return to play its matches at home. The Halloween matchup against the University of Washington will be played on Collins Court at the John Wooden Center.
Additionally, the regular season finale against crosstown rival USC will be played at Pauley Pavilion and televised nationally on ESPNU.
Compiled by Erik Kaye, Bruin Sports contributor.