Friday, October 20
Salt Lake City, UT
5:00 PM
UCLA
at
Utah
Sophomore Savvy Simo had 28 digs in two matches last weekend.
#13 Bruins Travel to #12 Utah, Colorado
October 17, 2017 | Women's Volleyball
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Match 18
Friday, October 20
5 p.m. PT
#13 UCLA at #12 Utah
Jon M. Huntsman Center
TV: Pac-12 Networks National and Los Angeles
Live Stats
Match 19
Saturday, October 21
6 p.m. PT
#13 UCLA at RV Colorado
Coors Events Center
TV: Pac-12 Networks Mountain and Pac-12 Now App
Live Stats
#13 BRUINS HEAD TO #12 UTAH, COLORADO
The 13th-ranked Bruins travel one time zone to the right this weekend, traveling to #12 Utah on Friday at 5 p.m. PT before heading to Colorado for a 6 p.m. PT matchup on Saturday. Both contests will air on Pac-12 Networks.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Bruins' four-match road trip comes to an end next weekend at Washington State (Friday, Oct. 27 at 8 p.m.) and #14 Washington (Sunday, Oct. 29 at 11 a.m.). Both contests will air on Pac-12 Networks.
BRUINS IN THE POLLS
After an odd week where the Bruins were ranked an even number (12th) in the AVCA poll, UCLA fell one spot to 13th in this week's rankings. The Bruins have been 13th five times and 11th three times, losing seven points in this week's poll. Seven teams ranked in the current Top 25 are on UCLA's schedule (#2 Stanford, #7 Nebraska, #12 Utah, #14 Washington, #15 Oregon, #18 San Diego and #19 USC), with Colorado and Oregon State also receiving votes. In the Pac-12 Conference Preseason Poll, the Bruins are fifth, receiving 83 points.
NEWS AND NOTES
Senior Sarah Sponcil comes into this week's play ranked 32nd in the nation in assists per set (10.95), with the Bruins as a team ranking 35th in hitting percentage (.257) ... junior Zana Muno is second among Pac-12 liberos in digs per set at 4.62. Sponcil is third in aps, sophomore Madeleine Gates is seventh in blocks per set (1.25) and senior Reily Buechler is 10th in kills (3.19) and points per set (3.66). As a team, the Bruins are second in dps (15.92) and fifth in hitting ... on 15 occasions this season, a Bruin has served at least two aces in a match. Freshman Mac May, the team leader in aces, has done it six times, junior Kyra Rogers four times, sophomore Savvy Simo twice and Buechler, Sponcil and freshman Jenny Mosser have done it once ... the Bruins are 10-1 when winning the opening set, with the only loss coming against Washington (Sept. 29). UCLA is also undefeated when winning a fourth set (5-0) ... the Bruins are 11-1 when leading their opponent in hitting percentage and 9-1 when holding their foe under a .200 clip ... UCLA is 9-0 when out-acing its opponent ... Rogers has hit over .400 in six matches this season, setting a career high with a .588 percentage at Hawai'i on Aug. 27. She has four double-figure kills matches for her career, all this year, posting a season-best 14 at Long Beach State on Sept. 15. Rogers also has an ace in 10 matches, including seven of her last 10 ... Buechler made her 100th career start against Stanford last Friday and notched her team-best 13th double-figure kills match of the year and seventh double-double (second on the team). Buechler, who has 1,343 career kills, is 19th in UCLA history. Next up on the list are Lauren Fendrick (18th, 1,356), Jeanne Beauprey/Dicey McGraw (16th, 1,365) and Daiva Tomkus (15th, 1,389). Buechler, who served a career-high four aces at Arizona on Oct. 4, has an ace in five straight matches ... Mosser has double figures in kills in eight of her last 10 matches, including a career-high 17 against Washington State (Oct. 1). She is averaging 3.08 kps in her last 10 contests. Mosser also has a pair of double-doubles during that span, posting 1.87 dps ... Muno, who was out last weekend due to illness, has double figures in digs in five in a row, registering at least 20 in three straight. She has at least six digs in every contest this season. Muno had 23 digs against WSU, 20 at Arizona and 24 at ASU (Oct. 6), with her career high being 34 at Hawai'i ... Simo has at least six digs in 11 matches in a row, reaching double figures twice last weekend with 17 against Stanford and 11 versus California. She has seven double-figure digs contests, producing a career-high 20 against USC on Sept. 20 ... Sponcil leads the Bruins with eight double-doubles, notching 32 assists and 12 digs against Stanford. She had season bests in assists at Hawai'i (58) and digs against Oregon (19) on Sept. 22 ... May reached double figures in kills for the eighth time with 12 against Cal. She has at least six kills in every contest this season. The team leader in aces with 17 has multiple aces in a contest six times ... Gates, who had a match-best 15 kills at ASU, has at least seven kills in 10 matches in a row, including 17 against Oregon. She did not commit a hitting error versus UO in 29 attempts for a .586 percentage. Defensively, Gates has a team-best eight matches with at least five blocks, including a career-high 10 against San Diego (Aug. 25).
SCOUTING THE UTAH UTES
Utah (16-3, 7-1 Pac-12) has won five in a row (four on the road), including a five-set triumph at Washington on Oct. 6. The Utes are averaging 14.66 kills, 0.97 aces, 14.66 digs and 2.64 blocks per set, hitting .277 as a team. Four players are averaging at least 2.00 kps, led by senior Adora Anae's 4.30. Senior Carly Trueman is second with 2.68 kps, junior Berkeley Oblad is third with 2.38 kps and first with 1.19 bps and senior Tawnee Luafalemana is fourth with 2.03 kps and second with 1.16 bps. Sophomore Bailey Choy (8.34 assists per set) and freshman Camryn Machado (3.94) are splitting the setting duties. Sophomore Brianna Doehrmann is tops on the team with 3.44 dps.ย
THE SERIES: BRUINS VS. UTES
UCLA leads the all-time series with Utah 17-3 and has won four in a row. The Bruins claimed each of last year's matchups via sweep. Utah's last win against UCLA was a sweep in Salt Lake City in 2014. The Bruins are 5-2 at Utah.
SCOUTING THE COLORADO BUFFALOES
Colorado (14-5, 4-4 Pac-12), which hosts USC on Friday, won at the Arizona schools last weekend to get back to .500 in league play. The Buffaloes are averaging 13.93 kills, 1.10 aces, 15.19 digs and 2.30 blocks per set, hitting .255 as a team. Four players are averaging over 2.00 kps, led by junior Alexa Smith's 4.16. Junior Frankie Shebby is second at 3.39 kps, followed by senior Joslyn Hayes (2.13) and junior Naghede Abu (2.12). Freshman Brynna DeLuzio handles the setting duties and is posting 11.32 assists per set. Junior Gabby Carta-Samuels is first with 3.62 dps, while Abu is tops with 1.26 bps.
THE SERIES: BRUINS VS. BUFFALOES
UCLA leads the all-time series with Colorado 11-3, including a 4-2 mark in Boulder. Each team won at home last season, with the Bruins winning in five and the Buffs victorious in four. UCLA's last two triumphs at CU have been sweeps (2014-15).
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