By Staff Reports
Arizona Daily Wildcat
September 10, 1997

Sidelines

The Arizona volleyball team had reason to celebrate last night, but not a single cheer was heard.

The Wildcats achieved their highest ranking in nearly two years yesterday at No. 18 in the USA Today/AVCA poll.

When coach Dave Rubio shared the news with the team following practice last night the players remained calm.

"We should be ranked way better than 18th," senior Sara Johnson said. "I think we should be in the top ten and that's a realistic number."

"We have the expectations of being even higher. It's a nice feeling but we want to be higher up there," senior Micheala Ebben added.

The ranking is Arizona's best since Oct. 24, 1995, when the Wildcats were 15th in the nation.

"We've always been told that rankings don't really mean that much about who's the better team. A 15th-ranked team is not necessarily a better team because they are ranked higher than us," senior Michelle Fanger said.

Arizona began the season at No. 20 and has progressively improved in the poll as it has compiled a 4-0 record.

"In some ways we have to be proud that we're in the top 20 but we have to take it in the right perspective," assistant coach Steve Carlat said. "The only thing that counts is who's standing at the end."

Briefly

The women's club volleyball team is holding tryouts tonight in Bear Down Gymnasium from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The tryouts continue tomorrow at Bear Down at the same time.

Tryouts are open to everyone and for more information call Heather Stockton at 322-9231.

By the Numbers

55,000:

Amount of money it cost the Wildcat rugby team for its three week trip to New Zealand this summer. The team was given $10,000 by rugby alumni and $10,000 by its sponsors. The team fundraised an additional $10,000 and also received roughly $6-7,000 in miscellaneous funds.

The remaining $13,000 was picked up by the members of the team who made the trip. The cost of the trip did not include lodging because each player was housed by members of the opposing teams and their families.