Motivation is the key to this weekend's volleyball matches for the Sun Devils as they take on No. 6 UCLA and No. 1 USC.
ASU (8-13, 3-9 Pac-10) needs to win its remaining six matches in order to remain eligible for the NCAA tournament - a daunting task considering the Sun Devils take on two of the best teams in the country this weekend and No. 11 Washington next week.
"I just think now is a test of the players' character," ASU head coach Brad Saindon said. "There's no nugget at the end of the rainbow. They're probably not going to go to the tournament. Now it's just up to the individual athletes to sustain their effort and their focus."
ASU is a team that relies on its veteran leadership, and the seniors know that time is running out to leave their mark on the Sun Devil volleyball program.
"I get psyched up because I'm like, 'What do we have to lose?'" senior libero Courtney Blocher said. "We have nothing to lose by playing as hard as we can. It's my senior year, and I just want to play every game to the best of my ability ... to get as many wins as we can in our time left."
Despite the Bruins' high ranking, ASU is confident it can beat UCLA, especially with the home-court advantage. Earlier this year, the Bruins defeated the Sun Devils in a three-game sweep at Pauley Pavilion.
Last year, the Sun Devils defeated the Bruins in four games at Wells Fargo Arena. At the time, UCLA was ranked No. 11 in the country.
"I don't ever look at UCLA like an unbeatable team," Blocher said. "They are always beatable in my mind."
The Bruins (19-4, 10-3) are riding a six-game winning streak and defeated both Washington schools last week. Brynn Murphy leads the team in kills per game (3.81), ranking her sixth in the Pac-10. UCLA also has Andy Banachowski, the winningest coach in women's volleyball history who has totaled a 958-239 record in his 38 years at the school.
Following UCLA is a team that Saindon considers one of the best college volleyball teams of all time: USC. The Women of Troy (22-0, 13-0) are the defending national champions. They have lost only three games all season and lead the Pac-10 in six statistical categories.
"They are just dominating in every way you can possibly dominate the world of college volleyball," Saindon said.
Injury report
Jodi Proctor (knee) still will not play, and her status for the rest of the season is doubtful. The senior middle blocker is expected to make a decision this week on whether to apply for a hardship with the NCAA and come back for her sixth year next season or to call this her final year.
Outside hitters Natalie Harris (leg) and Juliana Escobar (knees, back) are expected to start and see most of the playing time this weekend. The two are the team's leaders in kills and points per game.
Assistant coach Jami Couglin has been battling a cold all week but is expected to make the weekend's matches. Coughlin played for the Sun Devils for four years from 1998-2001 and ranks second in ASU history with 1,528 career digs.
Reach the reporter at jeffrey.hoodzow@asu.edu.
