PREVIEW

SPORTS

PAC-12 VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW PAC-12 VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW

Ducks outside hitter/ libero Brooke Nuneviller (5) leaps into the air to spike the ball to Washington State. Ducks Women’s Volleyball loses 0-3 to Washington State at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore., on October 17th, 2021. (Ian Enger/Emerald)

The Ducks play in the hardest volleyball conference, let’s check out who they’ll be competing against this season. BY NINA-GRACE MONTES

Pac-12 volleyball has always provided an entertaining experience for fans. Schools competing in the conference have won 17 out of 41 all-time NCAA championships –– four more than the next conference. A Pac-12 team has been one of the final four teams in all but five years of the NCAA tournament, in addition to at least one Pac-12 team playing in 27 out of the 41 NCAA title matches: the most in any league.

With conference play starting on Sept. 21 for the Oregon volleyball team, it’s time to look at who it’ll be facing this season.

OREGON STATE

The Ducks’ first opponent traveled across the country to prepare for league play. Their first invitational, the Rose City Showdown, led to the Beavers starting their season 0-2. Oregon State was awarded its first win at the Flo Hyman Cup in Houston, Texas, against Alabama. Junior setter Izzi Szulczewski is Oregon State’s most powerful weapon this season. She recorded the Beavers’ first tripledouble in five years, leading to Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors.

STANFORD

No. 5 Stanford is going to be a formidable opponent for the Ducks. The Cardinal has faced six top-25 teams during preseason invitationals and has beaten three of them, including No. 3 Minnesota — which the Ducks lost to in four sets during the Pac-12/Big-10 challenge. Stanford has two AVCA AllAmericans returning this season, opposite Kendall Kipp and outside hitter Catie Baird, and neither have skipped a beat. Kipp is the team leader in kills and service aces, and Baird is in the top five in every statistical category.

ARIZONA STATE

Senior outside hitter Iman Isanovic became the 18th Sun Devil to reach 1,000 career kills before hitting conference play. In addition to Isanovic, the Sun Devils will be returning three seniors and six juniors, as they only lost one athlete last season due to graduation. In her fifth year as head coach, Sanja Tomasevic led the Sun Devils to a 14-17 (7-13 in Pac-12) record. This season, ASU will face 10 teams who were in the NCAA tournament last season, six of whom play in the Pac-12 conference.

ARIZONA

Regardless of returning all but one of Arizona’s major contributors, Pac-12 coaches believe they’ll do worse this year as they were written into the 10th spot on the Pac-12 preseason poll. Over the past four seasons, the Wildcats haven’t finished higher than fifth place. The Wildcats will have 2020-21 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and all-conference honorable mention Sofia Maldonado Diaz. Puk Stubbe, a sophomore opposite named to the Pac-12 all-freshman team last season, will be returning as well as Kamaile Hiapo, considered one of the best liberos in the league.

WASHINGTON STATE

Oregon’s first matchup against the Cougars will be on Oct. 7 in Pullman, and it will be exciting. Two-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year Jen Greeny has led Washington State to six straight NCAA appearances, and they’re expected to make their seventh. Star players Pia Timmer and Magda Jehlarova will be back for the Cougars. Timmer, one of the best players in the Pac-12, is a two-time AVCA All-American honorable mention, a two-time Pac-12 all-conference first team and a two-time AVCA Pacific North all-region player. Jehlarova was named AVCA National and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2019 and was ranked second in the nation in blocks last year.

WASHINGTON

The Huskies have one of the most accomplished senior classes this season. Washington’s seniors already achieved four-straight Sweet 16s, an Elite Eight, a Final Four and two Pac-12 titles. All-Americans Marin Grote, Claire Hoffman and Ella May Powell will again lead the Huskies, as Washington is predicted to come out on top during Pac-12 play. During the preseason, the Huskies faced high-level competition from Northwestern, Pepperdine and Cal Poly to prepare them for conference play.

USC

During a preseason game against New Mexico State, the Women of Troy collected its 1,100th all-time win. The six-time National Champions were voted to finish fifth in Pac-12 play, one spot behind the Ducks. This off-season, the Trojans signed the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class, which includes Adonia Faumuina, Rylie McGinest, Jordan Wilson, Madison Pietsch, Dani ThomasNathan, Gala Trubint and Megan Verbiest.

UCLA

Last season, the Bruins finished with a 25-6 overall record and 16-4 in conference play. A lot of their success was credited to Mac May, who graduated this past spring and finished her time in Los Angeles third in all-time kills and aces. The six-foot-three outside hitter was a force to be reckoned with, and now there are huge footprints to fill. Head coach Michael Sealy will undoubtedly struggle to find someone to fill that void this season.

UTAH

Utah finished the 2021 season, tying a program-record for the most Pac-12 wins in a season, leading to a third place finish for the third time in a row. The Utes will be returning eight letter winners from last season’s tournament team — which reached the second round — to try to compete in the tournament once again. Fifth-year senior Madelyn Robinson, an AVCA All-Region and All-Pac-12 honoree, will lead the Utes, which adds a significant piece to a young team.

COLORADO

The Buffaloes arguably have one of the most rigid schedules out of all conference opponents. They will face 13 teams that have advanced to the NCAA tournament. That number could rise with Arkansas, Colorado State and Denver expected to push for spots this season. Colorado will be led by fifth-year seniors Meegan Hart and Bryanna DeLuzio. Right side and middle blocker Sterling Parker is expected to be ready to compete this season after missing the 2021 season due to an injury. Parker was an All-American freshman in 2019 and made the All-Pac-12 team in 2020.