Club volleyball hosts Arizona State

The Wildcats (6-2 in the WSC) trail the Sun Devils (6-1) by half a point in the conference standings and can take over first place with a win. Tonight's match is a best of five format. Arizona beat ASU in a best of three match earlier this year in a pre-season tournament in Santa Barbara.

Skip Greenburgh, UA assistant coach, said that with the NIRSA Collegiate Sport Club Championships starting next Thursday on campus a win this evening will be huge for the team.

"It's going to come down to if we are mentally focused and play hard the entire match," Greenburgh said. "When we have struggled that has been our problem."

Finding a replacement for co-captain, 6-foot, 7 inch middle blocker Mike Wagner won't be any easier. Wagner suffered an ankle injury when the team was in Colorado. Greenburgh said that 6-5 freshman, Joel Kosenke, an Amphitheater High School graduate, will start in his place.

"The good news is that Mike Wagner should be ready for nationals," Greenburgh said.

The No. 9 Wildcats play ASU again Friday in Tempe at 7 p.m. at PE-East gymnasium on ASU's campus.

Over 125 men's and women's volleyball teams from school's around the country will be on campus next week for the NIRSA Championships.