The Arizona Wildcat volleyball team will open the first week of Pacific 10 Conference play against No. 13 USC and No. 14 UCLA. Although No. 19 Arizona posted its best start in program history, it will not take anything for granted against the talented California schools.
And while playing at home is always a big comfort for Arizona volleyball, the biggest comfort this weekend for the Wildcats (11-0) will be the return of outside hitter Whitney Dosty.
The junior had been sidelined since Sept. 9 when she sustained a hand injury during practice.
“”I broke the bone at the joint. I had to have two screws up in it to fix it,”” Dosty said about the injury. “”That’s the most of the pain just dealing with those in there.””
Although the medical staff cleared her on Wednesday morning, Dosty will still wear a cast if she sees action. Sophomores Kaylen Bannister and Courtney Karst filled in nicely for Dosty while she was sidelined, but the presence of the 6-foot-3 player is something Arizona will use to its advantage.
The Women of Troy have matched Arizona’s win total, having won 11 straight after dropping their non-conference opener to Michigan State. Although USC (11-1) owns the series advantage 51-17 over Arizona, the Wildcats won the last meeting between USC at McKale Center and will look to make it two straight.
“”I feel like Pac-10 play is so much more magnified just because in almost every match you have two highly-ranked, very talented teams battling,”” said junior setter Paige Weber.
There will be no rest for Arizona as they take on the Bruins just one day later. Having fallen to them both on the road and at home during last year’s season, Arizona will look to win its first home match against UCLA since 2007.
The best conference in the NCAA begins its matches this weekend, and with so many talented teams, everything is up for grabs.
“”USC and UCLA always have very talented teams,”” said head coach Dave Rubio. “”It used to be that there were the two elite conference teams, but now everyone is good.””
The Wildcats will face off against USC at 6 p.m. today before playing UCLA at 6 p.m. tomorrow.
