Pac-12 volleyball begins league play with the rivalry matchups

SAN FRANCISCO - League play kicks off this week beginning with the rivalry matchups, all televised on Pac-12 Networks. With just one non-conference match left on the schedule, Pac-12 teams go into the week with seven ranked teams (tied for the most of any conference) -- including four in the top 15 -- and with a combined .784 winning percentage (98-27) against non-conference opponents. All 12 teams head into league play with a winning record for the fourth-consecutive year.

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK
• With seven ranked teams, league action on Pac-12 Networks kicks off with top-25 matchups between No. 23 UTAH and COLORADO, followed by No. 22 WASHINGTON STATE traveling to No. 13 WASHINGTON.
• No. 17 UCLA takes the short trip No. 14 USC on Wednesday for an ESPNU broadcast. The teams split the series last season with each team winning on the other’s home court.
• The week closes out with top-25 clashes between the Bruins and Utah on Friday, while the Trojans travel to face the Buffs and WSU heads to Oregon on Sunday.
• Before Conference action begins, OREGON STATE hosts Seattle University on Tuesday for the final non-conference regular-season matchup of the season. The Beavs have a 9-2 record so far, looking for just their sixth 10-win non-league campaign since 2000, and second-straight.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE (All Times Pacific)

* Pac-12 Conference Match

AVCA RANKINGS
• Seven Pac-12 teams continue to be ranked in the AVCA poll, tied for the most of any conference. STANFORD remains at No. 2 after posting victories over five-straight top-five ranked teams. In the top 15 of the poll are No. 12 OREGON, No. 13 WASHINGTON and No. 14 UCLA. No. 22 WASHINGTON STATE and No. 23 UTAH are also ranked, while ARIZONA, COLORADO and OREGON STATE are receiving votes.
• The Pac-12 had eight ranked teams during the week of Sept. 3, and has had at least seven teams ranked every week, including the preseason.

WHAT’S TRENDING
• The Pac-12 boasts four setters with assist averages in the top-25 in the NCAA, including two in the top-five. Oregon’s August Raskie (12.35) and Stanford’s Jenna Gray (12.32) rank third and fourth in the country, helping Oregon (3rd) and the Cardinal (7th) rank in the top-five in team assists average. Arizona’s Julia Patterson (12th, 11.47) and USC’s Raquel Lazaro (21st, 11.21) also rank in the top-25.
• Colorado’s Alexa Smith joined the 1,000-kills club last week, becoming just the second Colorado native to accomplish the feat. She is also the sixth active Pac-12 player with 1,000 career kills, joining Stanford’s Kathryn Plummer, Arizona’s Kendra Dahlke, USC’s Khalia Lanier and Oregon’s Lindsey Vander Weide. A total of 178 players in Pac-12 history have reached the 1,000-kill plateau.
• Arizona’s Dave Rubio joins an elite company after claiming his 500th victory while at Tucson. In his 27th season at the Wildcat helm, he is only the second head coach in Pac-12 history to reach the milestone.
• Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors went to Stanford’s Kathryn Plummer and Morgan Hentz for the second-consecutive week. The duo helped the Cardinal to a pair of back-to-back, home-and-home victories over then-No. 3 Texas. The Cardinal have defeated five-consecutive top-five opponents.
• Oregon State’s Maddie Sheehan was tabbed the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week after leading the Beavs to an upset of then-No. 23 San Diego, the team’s second win over a ranked opponent this season.
• Washington State’s Claire Martin broke the program’s all-time blocks record on Sept. 14, tallying her 469th career block. She, along with Colorado’s Naghede Abu, are the only two active players in the Pac-12 with over 400-career blocks. Both also rank in the top-five in the NCAA among active career leaders. WSU teammate Taylor Mims is just two stuffs away from reaching the threshold.
• Tournament honors continued last week with Arizona’s Devon Cross, CU’s Naghede Abu, OSU’s Amy Underdown and Washington’s Destiny Julye garnering MVP nods at their respective tournaments. Abu nabs the honor in her first weekend of action after missing the first nine matches of the season.
• Five current players entered the season with a minimum 1,000 career digs, led by OSU’s Kayla Ellis, who ranks in the top-65 all-time in Pac-12 history with over 1,200 digs.
• Pac-12 teams opened the season in dominant fashion, going 25-5 (.833) in the first weekend of play. League teams have posted a 385-91 (.809) record in the opening week of play dating back to 2002.

PAC-12 VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

THIS WEEK:
Offensive: Kathryn Plummer, STAN
Defensive: Morgan Hentz, STAN
Freshman: Maddie Sheehan, OSU

ALSO NOMINATED THIS WEEK:

Offensive: Paige Whipple, ARIZ; Megan Beedie, ASU; Alexa Smith, COLO; August Raskie, ORE; Amy Underdown, OSU; Mac May, UCLA; Khalia Lanier, USC; Lauren Sproule, UTAH; Destiny Julye, WASH; Taylor Mims, WSU.
Defensive: Devyn Cross, ARIZ; Courtney Leffel, ASU; Naghede Abu, COLO; Ronika Stone, ORE; Maddy Gravley, OSU; Madeleine Gates, UCLA; Victoria Garrick, USC; Shayne McPherson, WASH; Claire Martin, WSU. 
Freshman: Jenna Ewert, COLO; Brooke Nuneviller, ORE; Holly Campbell, STAN; Devon Chang, UCLA, Raquel Lazaro, USC; Ella May Powell, WASH.

2018 PAC-12 VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

IN THE PRESEASON

Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll & All-Pac-12 Team | AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll

NATIONAL HONORS

AVCA National Player of the Week:
Sep. 11 - Kathryn Plummer, Stanford