What to Watch: Must-See Matches

Arkansas at LSU

Arkansas (21-8, 12-6 SEC) registered its first 20-win season since 2005. The team’s 12 wins in conference play are a program high under head coach Robert Pulliza, surpassing the team’s 10 SEC wins last season. The Razorbacks have won three of their past four and are led by senior Roslandy Acosta, who has five double-doubles this season, and Jasmine Norton who averages a team-high 3.67 kills per set.

LSU (12-16, 8-11 SEC) was handed a pair of road setbacks from No. 16 Florida and Tennessee in two of the tougher venues in the SEC last weekend. The Tigers were playing without outside hitter Helen Boyle and have lost three consecutive SEC decisions for the first time since the 2004 season. It will be senior night as fans honor Sam Delahoussaye, Victoria Jacobsen, Madie Jones and Meghan Mannari for their contributions to the program.

Arizona St. at
No. 5 Washington

The fifth-ranked Huskies (22-5, 13-5 Pac-12) finish their home finale against the Sun Devils before heading to Washington State for the last match of the season.  UW knows every play will count down the stretch, as it can still finish as high as second in the Pac-12 standings with two more wins.

Washington is coming off a key win against then-No. 4 Oregon in which it set the school record for longest fifth set. In the win, Cassie Strickland had her first double-double with 14 kills and 12 blocks, while hitting a team-best .394.

Arizona State (18-13, 7-11 Pac-12), has a lot to play for as it tries to reach 20 wins which could mean an NCAA tourney bid. ASU has one of the top outside hitter combos with Erica Wilson averaging 4.06 kills per set and freshman Macey Gardner ranking third in the Pac-12 with 4.48 kills per set. Libero Stephanie Preach is third in the league with 4.68 digs per set as well. ASU has some big wins under its belt, including a home upset of USC, and a series sweep over California.