TEMPE, Ariz. -- Stevie Mussie doesn't care that Arizona State's volleyball team was picked to finish 11th in the preseason Pac-12 media poll. The only opinions that matter to Mussie come from within the program, or within the Sun Devil community.
On the other hand, Mussie relishes the Devils' underdog status because she has intimate knowledge of that role.
"I'm a 5-9 outside hitter," she said, grinning. "I have been an underdog my whole life."
The Sun Devils have only been practicing officially for three weeks, but Mussie has already instilled that mentality in her players as they prepare for their season opener on Friday against Fairfield in the University of New Mexico Tournament in Albuquerque.