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UCLA women’s volleyball to take on unranked Utah and Colorado

(Aubrey Yeo/Daily Bruin senior staff)

By Erik Kaye

Oct. 10, 2014 4:23 a.m.

In Pac-12 women’s volleyball, the number next to your school’s name often means little, if anything at all, to the team on the opposite side of the net.

Last week, the UCLA women’s volleyball team proved that testament by stealing two straight sets from a highly-touted, undefeated University of Washington team. The then-No. 20 Bruins ended up losing the match to the then-No. 4 Huskies, but nearly knocked off one of the best teams in the conference.

This weekend’s matches against unranked, yet competitive, Utah (11-4, 1-3 Pac-12) and Colorado (10-6, 2-2 Pac-12) also call for a similar set of circumstances – only this time the target won’t be visible to No. 17 UCLA. Instead, the target will be on its back.

“It’s really important for us to realize that every single game counts, so it’s huge for us to go into these conference games with confidence,” said freshman outside hitter Reily Buechler.

Confidence will be key for UCLA (11-4, 2-2 Pac-12) as they prepare for only their second match at their “home away from home” at the Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu, where Utah will be awaiting on Friday.

The Utes, who carry an overall record identical to the Bruins, will be facing a more experienced starting six than last year. Senior outside hitter Karsta Lowe handily leads the nation in kills per set by nearly half a kill, while senior setter Julie Consani currently heads the Pac-12 in assists per-set at nearly 12.

In last year’s regular season finale, Utah effectively kept UCLA from securing a potential NCAA tournament bid with a three-sets-to-one victory on UCLA’s home court. And even though the stakes won’t be as dire for this weekend’s matchup, a loss could haunt the Bruins when 2014 is all said and done.

“In the Pac-12, every match is every bit as important as the last one, so you have to be able to bounce back at a very short round,” said head coach Michael Sealy.

Following a day of rest, UCLA will welcome Colorado on Sunday, continuing the abundant flow of quality opponents on its conference schedule.

The Buffs, who share the same 2-2 Pac-12 record as the Bruins, were a few votes away from earning a top-25 spot on the AVCA Division I Coaches Poll after trouncing then-No. 14 University of Arizona last week.

Historically, UCLA has fared well against Colorado, with UCLA’s first loss ever against the program coming only last season. Yet surviving in the ultra-competitive Pac-12 conference requires not overlooking opponents that fly under the radar.

As for the Bruins marking the halfway point of their season this weekend, they feel their fortunes are trending upward.

“[We] have so much potential to be so good and have so much progress from the beginning of last year,” said sophomore libero Taylor Formico. “We just have to remember UCLA volleyball and remember that UCLA volleyball is historically one of best in the conference.”

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Erik Kaye
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