Starting on Friday, the No. 13 WSU women’s volleyball team (15-3, 5-1) will kick off homecoming weekend with a match against University of Colorado (10-6, 2-4) and end the weekend with a showdown versus No. 21 University of Utah (13-4, 4-2).

Following a loss to No. 20 University of Oregon last weekend, the Cougars dropped threespots in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll and now sit in a tie for second place in the Pac-12.

“Colorado is a great team, has done some really spectacular things, beaten a lot of ranked teams,” WSU Head Coach Jen Greeny said. “Of course Utah is on fire right now, just having beaten Stanford at their place. So another great weekend of Pac-12 volleyball.”

Colorado faced No. 7 Stanford and California last weekend and lost by a score of 3-1 in both matches. WSU faced the same set of teams two weeks ago and dominated the pair, sweeping the Golden Bears and pulling out a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Cardinal.

Sophomore outside hitter Alexa Smith from Colorado is a player to watch, scoring 14 kills for the Buffs in their match against California last weekend. Smith averages 3.32 kills per set and 0.27 service aces per set, putting her at sixth in the Pac-12 for the mark. Buffalo’s junior setter Gabby Simpson had 12 kills, 20 assists, and eight digs against the Golden Bears and is another player the Cougars will have to keep an eye on.

In contrast, Utah swept California and Stanford this past weekend. Junior outside hitters Adora Anae and Carly Trueman had impressive showings against the Cardinal with Anae recording 20 kills in the match and Trueman adding 13 kills.

The Utes enter Sunday’s match with the fifth-highest kill average per set at 13.76.

Blocks stop kills, and WSU remains ranked second in the NCAA and the Pac-12 with 3.33 blocks per set. Sophomore middle blocker Taylor Mims ranks second in the Pac-12 and 11th in the NCAA with 1.54 blocks per set while fellow sophomore middle blocker Claire Martin sits in fourth in the conference and 15th in the NCAA at 1.50 blocks per set.

Behind the blockers stands the libero/defensive specialist, a key player in digging out the opponent’s spikes. WSU freshman libero/defensive specialist Alexis Dirige is seventh in the Pac-12 with 4.02 digs per set.

While the Cougars defense is strong, its offense remains solid as well with senior outside hitter Kyra Holt leading the charge, averaging 3.72 kills per set, 9th in Pac-12. Sophomore outside hitter McKenna Woodford had 12 kills in the Cougars 3-1 win over Oregon State last weekend to go along with Holt’s 15, giving WSU an impressive one-two punch to counter the Utes offense.

Homecoming 2016 this year will also celebrate WSU’s 1996 Elite Eight volleyball team. In 1996, the Cougars finished the season with a 27-6, 14-4 record and were second in the Pac-10. The team will be introduced during Friday’s match and will also be honored on Saturday at Martin Stadium.

WSU plays Colorado on Friday at 7 p.m. and Utah on Sunday at noon in Bohler Gym. Sunday’s game will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.