The Barometer Online

Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Curtis Barnard Freshman defensive specialist Betsy Devich has tallied 79 digs on the season, while providing Oregon State with a boost of energy in matches.

A week after being swept the Oregon State volleyball team has re-focused and is headed to the desert for meetings with Arizona State and Arizona.

The Beavers (14-13, 3-11) need two wins to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, and three would almost guarantee a berth in the post-season for the first time since 2001. In order to reach their goal, Oregon State must win a match against a team in Arizona State (12-15, 3-11) that swept them earlier in the season at Legendary Gill Coliseum.

"We try to forget that match," junior setter Camilla Ah-Hoy said. "Ever since that match we have kind of gone down and that shouldn't happen. We have to control what we do on our side and minimize our errors."

Sophomore outside hitter Sarah Reaves, who has terminated 388 balls, leads Arizona State's offensive attack. Senior outside hitter Margie Giordano is second on the Sun Devil roster with 312 kills of her own. Setting things up for the Sun Devil attack has been junior setter Marina Mercer and her 987 assists.

Oregon State's offense will look to minimize errors while attacking sophomore defensive specialist Sarah Johnson and her 384 digs. Up front, freshman middle blocker Sonja Markanovich has a team high 103 blocks and 94 block assists. Reaves leads ASU with 12 block solos at the net.

"We sat down and had a team meeting to talk about what it is going to take to win," freshman defensive specialist Betsy Devich said. "We are going to do everything we need to do to get to our goal."

After their match with Arizona State the Beavers travel to Tucson to take on the Wildcats (14-12, 4-10) of Arizona. Oregon State swept UA in Corvallis in Oct., marking OSU's second straight win over the Wildcats.

Leading the Arizona attack is sophomore outside hitter Tiffany Owens, who recently overtook teammate Whitney Dosty with 253 kills. Setting balls for Owens has been sophomore setter Paige Weber, who has 920 assists and a 61 assist season-high against USC.

Continued...

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