By Christina Teller
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
All three teams hold their fate in their own hands.
After No. 7 UCLA (12-2 Pac-10, 18-5 overall) defeated No. 6 USC
(12-2, 19-2) last weekend, the Bruins put themselves in contention
for the top spot in the Pac-10. This weekend, No. 3 Arizona (14-1,
22-2) faces both Southern California teams, and depending on the
outcome of these two matches, the conference champion will be
decided.
UCLA and Arizona are the two teams that USC has lost to this
season, and UCLA is the only conference opponent to have defeated
the Wildcats.
But before the Bruins can worry about facing Pac-10 leader
Arizona, they must focus on the Arizona State Sun Devils (9-6,
17-8). The last time the Bruins faced Arizona State, they won, but
the match went to five games.
“The Arizona matches are crucial to us,” senior
middle blocker Elisabeth Bachman said. “We are going to take
a day off and then get ready to go through some tough games
here.”
Friday’s match will again highlight the conference’s
two leading hitters, as Bruin junior outside hitter Kristee Porter
faces off with the Sun Devil’s Amanda Burbridge. Porter
averages 5.90 kills per game to lead the conference and is second
in the nation in 30-kill matches. Burbridge, meanwhile, averages
5.56 kills per game and was named Pac-10 Player of the Week for
Oct. 23, after she tallied 77 kills, 47 digs and 10 blocks in
ASU’s matches against the Washington schools.
Though ASU is not in contention for the conference title, a loss
to the Sun Devils would most likely eliminate the Bruins from the
title hunt.
“I am excited for the games this weekend,” freshman
middle blocker Ella Harley said. “Arizona State cannot be
overlooked because they are a good team.”
But while the Bruins will need to fight off the threat of the
Sun Devils on Friday, UCLA’s match against Arizona will prove
to be even more crucial in terms of the conference title.
“I am really excited about Arizona because it will give us
a chance to prove we should win the Pac-10 and get a good seed for
the Tournament and hopefully host a Regional,” Harley
said.
Arizona enters their weekend in Southern California with a 10-0
road record. Up against USC on Thursday, the Wildcats will face
UCLA on Saturday. Arizona defeated the Trojans in three games in
their last meeting after UCLA handed it its first conference loss.
Should Arizona win the match against USC, the conference title will
come down to their match against UCLA.
When the Bruins play together, they can defeat any opponent and
when all six players are on the same page, they can be
unstoppable.
Senior middle blocker Bachman enters her last two regular-season
matches at home second in the conference, averaging 1.37 per game.
Sophomore outside hitter Lauren Fendrick leads the conference in
aces with 41 total and 0.51 per game. Sophomore setter Erika Selsor
leads in assists averaging 14.04 per game.
With only two more weekends of regular season play left, the
Bruins know what is at stake.
“It’s not going to be hard to get motivated,”
Harley said. “It’s going to be a USC or Stanford type
of match.”