TEMPE, Ariz. – Following another top-15 upset, No. 25 Arizona State women's volleyball is back on the road to face two-straight ranked opponents in No. 20 UCLA and No. 15 USC on Wednesday and Friday, respectively.
The Sun Devils (13-5, 4-2 Pac-12) are ranked in the AVCA Coaches Poll for the first time since 2015 when they reached as high as No. 5. The matchups against UCLA and USC will feature both teams ranked for the first time since 2015. The teams were ranked in all four matches that season, with ASU coming up short in each of the matchups.
Senior Alyse Ford will be playing against her former team for the first time this season. Ford transferred from USC to play at Arizona State. She earned two Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention as a freshman and sophomore.
Over the weekend, ASU bounced back from a loss to No. 22 Washington State last Friday to upset No. 15 Washington in straight sets on Sunday. It was their first win at home against the Huskies since 2000. ASU is in a five-way tie for second in the Pac-12 and is off to the best start since 2015.
Opponent Outlook
No. 20 UCLA (8-5, 3-3 Pac-12) | Wednesday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m. PT | Pac-12 Networks
The Sun Devils (13-5, 4-2 Pac-12) are ranked in the AVCA Coaches Poll for the first time since 2015 when they reached as high as No. 5. The matchups against UCLA and USC will feature both teams ranked for the first time since 2015. The teams were ranked in all four matches that season, with ASU coming up short in each of the matchups.
Senior Alyse Ford will be playing against her former team for the first time this season. Ford transferred from USC to play at Arizona State. She earned two Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention as a freshman and sophomore.
Over the weekend, ASU bounced back from a loss to No. 22 Washington State last Friday to upset No. 15 Washington in straight sets on Sunday. It was their first win at home against the Huskies since 2000. ASU is in a five-way tie for second in the Pac-12 and is off to the best start since 2015.
Opponent Outlook
No. 20 UCLA (8-5, 3-3 Pac-12) | Wednesday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m. PT | Pac-12 Networks
- The Bruins have three wins over ranked opponents this year (No. 12 Baylor, No. 19 San Diego, No. 23 Utah).
- All five of their losses have come from teams that are ranked, including most recently being swept by No. 20 Oregon at home last Friday.
- ASU has struggled against UCLA in the series history. The Bruins hold a 73-10 all-time record over the Sun Devils, including six wins in a row. Arizona State's last victory came in a five-set win in Tempe on November 26, 2014.
- The Trojans have five wins against ranked teams this season (No. 5 Kentucky, No. 13 Creighton, No. 4 Florida, No. 23 San Diego, No. 17 UCLA).
- Four of the five setbacks have come against teams in the top 25. Most recently, USC fell in three against No. 20 Oregon at home.
- USC leads in the all-time series against ASU, 67-13. The Sun Devil's last won on September 26, 2014 in Los Angeles. The Trojans have won six of the last meetings.