A Look Ahead – Oct. 10-14

by Jen Armson-Dyer

There are some pretty big matches this week as far as the poll is concerned, but there are several more with implications in some conference races that will be instrumental in determining the final league standings and NCAA bids.

Important Top 10 Matches

#2 Washington vs. #5 Oregon - The Huskies look to remain the lone unbeaten as they travel to Eugene to face the Ducks on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. PT. Links to multimedia: http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=234&SPSID=4284

#3 Nebraska vs. #10 Minnesota – The Huskers welcome the Golden Gophers into the Coliseum on Sunday for a 2:00 p.m. CT contest televised on ESPN2. Links to multimedia: http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?spid=23&spsid=13&db_oem_id=100

#4 Stanford vs. #6 USC & #7 UCLA – The Cardinal welcome two tough tests this week as they face the Trojans on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. PT before hosting the Bruins on Friday at 6:00 p.m. PT. Both matches will be aired on the Pac-12 Networks. Links to multimedia: http://www.gostanford.com/sports/w-volley/sched/stan-w-volley-sched.html

#9 Texas vs. #21 Kansas – Fresh off a five-set thriller Monday night at Louisville, the Longhorns host the Jayhawks in a battle of conference unbeatens on Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT in a match that will be broadcast on the Longhorn Network. Links to multimedia: http://www.texassports.com/sports/w-volley/sched/tex-w-volley-sched.html 

#24 Pepperdine (11-7, 1-4) vs. Santa Clara (14-5, 4-1)

The Waves host the Broncos on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. PT and will be looking to even the season series as Santa Clara claimed the first meeting this season in four sets on Sept. 29. Jazmine Orozco leads Pepperdine with 3.53 kills per set (226 kills), Michaela Christiaansen leads the defense with 3.89 digs per set (249 digs) and Victoria Adelhelm tops the blocking list with 1.20 blocks per set (77 total blocks). For Santa Clara, Taylor Milton leads the squad with 2.84 kills per set (219 kills), Katherine Douglas directs the defense with 2.40 digs per set (185 digs) and Megan Anders leads the blocking list with 0.96 blocks per set (74 total blocks). Click here for multimedia: http://www.pepperdinesports.com/sports/w-volley/sched/pepp-w-volley-sched.html

Colorado State (10-5, 3-1) vs. UNLV (12-6, 4-1)

Sitting atop the Mountain West Conference, UNLV hosts second-place Colorado State on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. MT in a match that will be televised on CBS Sports Network. Dana Cranston leads the Rams with 3.21 kills per set (180 kills) while Izzy Gaulia tops the defense with 4.18 digs per set (234 digs) and Megan Plourde leads the blocking chart with 1.61 blocks per set (90 total blocks). For the Rebels, Madeline Westman tops the squad with 2.80 kills per set (193 kills) and 1.51 blocks per set (104 total blocks) while Allison Davies leads the defense with 3.91 digs per set (270 digs). Click here for multimedia: http://www.unlvrebels.com/sports/w-volley/sched/unlv-w-volley-sched.html

Bowling Green (10-7, 6-0) vs. Central Michigan (11-6, 5-1)

Leaders of the East and West divisions of the Mid-America Conference, Central Michigan hosts Bowling Green on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET. For the Chippewas, Kaitlyn McIntyre tops the squad with 3.71 kills per set (234 kills) while Jenna Coates leads the defense with 4.98 digs per set (314 digs) and Angelique White tops the blocking list with 1.05 blocks per set (63 total blocks). For Bowling Green, Paige Penrod leads the offense with 4.08 kills per set (253 kills), Ashley Dunn tops the defense with 4.24 digs per set (263 digs) and Leah Shaw heads the blocking list with 1.07 blocks per set (63 total blocks). Click here for multimedia: http://www.cmuchippewas.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10500&SPID=4209&SPSID=46431 

Idaho State (13-4, 7-1) vs. Portland State (12-7, 8-0)

Sitting one-two in the Big Sky Conference, Idaho State hosts Portland State on Friday at 7:00 p.m. Tressa Lyman leads the ISU Bengals with 3.38 kills per set (220 kills), Kylee Searle tops the defense with 3.64 digs per set (244 digs) and Jaclyn Hone posts 1.02 blocks per set (67 total blocks). For Portland State, Jaklyn Wheeler tops the offensive chart with 4.23 kills per set (296 kills), Kasimira Clark leads the defense with 5.29 digs per set (370 digs) and Katie O’Brien heads the blocking list with 1.13 blocks per set (69 total blocks). Click here for multimedia: http://www.isubengals.com/schedule.aspx?path=wvball

Which matches are you going to be following this week?