By
David Stevenson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Team health, sloppy play cause two 7-0 defeats
The good times are over for the Wildcats.
The team was enjoying its highest ranking (No. 33) of the season coming into last weekend, until Arizona ran into No. 26 California (11-7 overall, 3-3 Pacific 10 Conference) and No. 4 Stanford (17-1, 6-0).
The road trip was over quickly.
The Golden Bears and the Cardinal each dominated the Wildcats (12-8, 3-7) 7-0. Friday, against Cal, freshman Whi Kim retired his match after he led, 6-3, 2-6, 3-2, because he strained his right Achilles tendon.
"During the match, I slightly pulled it," he said. "Coach didn't want me to finish the match."
The team still had other problems, though. Junior Steven Capriati didn't make the trip. He instead admitted himself into the hospital with a 103-degree temperature. Though he managed to practice lightly yesterday, the junior pulled himself from the training early.
Freshman Carl Hagman also felt sick all weekend. He cut practice early to rest. Both are expected to practice fully tomorrow.
With Capriati out, Hagman under the weather and Kim nursing a sore heel, the Wildcats struggled.
"Coach (Wright) knows that every team isn't going to play well all of the time," junior Brian Jackson said.
At practice yesterday, the coach told the team to know its opponents before the match. He said when the team learns about the opponent and its weaknesses, the Wildcats can execute their game plan more easily.
"Every time, we've got to find out who we're going to hit to before doubles play," Wright told the team. "When we've got one guy that's a volleyer and one that isn't, we need to think about that."
Overall, there was a light team atmosphere during practice because the losses won't cause the team to miss the NCAA Regionals.
"It doesn't matter (that we lost)," UA senior Jari Niskala said. Both Cal and Stanford have high rankings and (the NCAA) knows that."
Wright was a little more blunt in his assessment of the team.
"Two words: long weekend."
