Arizona volleyball looks to break losing streak in Los Angeles against USC and UCLA

Barbara Rivero

November 3, 2023

Carly Markovich

Players sport the warm up shirts of the University of Arizona’s women’s volleyball team. The athletes prepare for their second match in the 2022 Cactus Classic.

The Arizona volleyball team (6-17, 1-11 in Pac-12 play) is headed on the road to Los Angeles, Calif. for its upcoming matchups this week facing USC on Friday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m., followed by another match against UCLA on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. The Wildcats are currently on a seven-game losing streak.

Game 1: USC – Friday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m.

Earlier this season, Arizona lost to the Trojans (3-2) on Oct. 8. The set scores were 26-24, 12-25, 20-25, 25-20 and 9-15. Arizona’s total kills were 59 and USC’s were 62.

USC (14-8, 8-4 in Pac-12 play) last match was against the University of Utah on Sunday, Oct. 29. The Trojans won 3-1 with sets of 21-25, 25-20, 26-24 and 25-21.

History vs. USC

The Wildcats are 22-73 all-time against USC, dating back to 1977. Arizona is also currently on a 10-game losing streak to USC spanning from 2017 to 2023. The Wildcats home record is 19-52, and their away record is 3-21. Throughout the years, USC has had a total of 1143 kills compared to Arizona’s 1026, making a difference of 117 kills.

Game 2: UCLA – Sunday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m.

Arizona and UCLA’s last matchup was earlier this season on Oct. 6. The Wildcats won the match 3-1. Their set scores were 25-15, 25-20, 14-25 and 25-23. Arizona’s hitting percentage was .254 and UCLA had a .202 hitting percentage. The Wildcats had a total of 55 kills compared to UCLA’s 52.

UCLA (13-9, 5-7 in Pac-12 play) most recent game was against the University of Colorado on Sunday, Oct. 29. UCLA won 3-0 with game sets of 27-25, 25-20 and 25-21.

History vs. UCLA

The Wildcats are 28-66 against UCLA all-time, dating back to 1977. From the years 2019 to 2022, the Wildcats were on a 7-game losing streak. However, that came to an end when Arizona defeated UCLA earlier this season.

Wildcats to watch

Senior Sofia Maldonado Diaz currently holds the most kills on the team with 293, followed by sophomore Jordan Wilson with 233 kills. Then there’s Ana Heath, a key defender for the Wildcats, who has acquired 204 digs so far this season.

These three players will be at the forefront of Arizona’s gameplan of ending this road trip 2-0.

Looking ahead:

The Wildcats plan to end their seven-game losing streak and look forward to doing so against USC and UCLA this week.

Then heading into next week, they are scheduled to host the University of Utah on Thursday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. and the University of Colorado on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m.

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