Plummer & Anae Duel as #3 Stanford Hosts #16 Utah; Nov. 22 Preview

Every day at VolleyMob we will preview several of the most notable and interesting matches in NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball. We will offer an inside look at some of those top matchups each day as we carry along through the 2017 season.

*Note: The VolleyMob Top 25 Power Rankings are utilized for a team’s ranking

*The entire week’s schedule can be seen here.

THE BIG MATCH:

#16 Utah (21-8, 12-6) at #3 Stanford (24-3, 17-1) – 9 pm ET

How to follow: Pac-12 Networks/Live Stats

The Cardinal already won the Pac-12 outright, but now look to finish up their quest to getting a top four seed from the NCAA Tournament committee. For Utah, they too are on a hosting bubble as they could use a strong week to get a top 16 spot. Their current RPI of 13 would likely be good enough, but two road matches against ranked competition complicates things this week for the Utes.

Utah has won three straight after suffering five losses in six matches. For Stanford they’ve been on a roll all season. This match also features two National Player of the Year candidates in Utah’s Adora Anae (4.27 kills per set, 3.21 digs per set) and Stanford’s Kathryn Plummer (4.72 kills per set, .317), as both affect the match in a multitude of ways.

OTHER NOTABLE MATCHES:

#19 UCLA (17-10, 10-8) at (RV) Oregon State (21-9, 11-7) – 4 pm ET

How to follow: Pac-12 Networks/Live Stats

Oregon State has now won 10 of their last 12 conference matches after a 1-5 start, as they have a real opportunity to finish in the top five – and maybe even top three of the Pac-12. Both teams have RPIs in the mid-20s, so it may be difficult to earn a hosting spot for either, but either would have to win out this week to maximize their chances.

#12 USC (21-8, 13-5) at #22 Oregon (16-10, 9-9) – 5 pm ET

How to follow: Pac-12 Networks/Live Stats

Oregon looks to end a three match skid as they host USC in a week where Oregon can bounce back and possibly stay alive to host in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. USC looks good in that regard, but could use another win to secure it as they try to finish the year in a tight race for second in the Pac-12.

(RV) Michigan (19-11, 9-9) at #17 Purdue (21-8, 11-7) – 7 pm ET

How to follow: BTN Plus/Purdue Radio/Game Tracker

Both of these schools are making a late push at the end of the season as the Wolverines have won three straight – all over ranked or on the cusp opponents. Purdue also has been pushing ahead as they’ve won four of five. That one loss though? Last match at Michigan in four sets. Now they go again just four days later.