By
Brian Penso
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Burkholder to return for senior season
The 2000 Pacific 10 Conference Champion Arizona volleyball team successfully put UA volleyball on the map for good.
The Wildcats (29-4 overall, 16-2 Pac-10) finished the season as the first team other than Stanford or UCLA to win the Pac-10 title.
"That accomplishment alone speaks volume for our program," UA head coach David Rubio said. "To become only the third team to win the title is something really special for everyone involved in our program."
Arizona also made its first appearance in NCAA Tournament Elite Eight only to fall short of its first Final Four bid, losing to Nebraska, the eventual National Champion.
"Everything we have accomplished this past year has helped our program greatly," junior setter Dana Burkholder said. "Arizona volleyball has grown so much and it has helped us in recruiting. I think that our program is about to take off and we are going to be even better in the future."
Individually, Arizona was led by Burkholder, a First Team All American. The junor led UA's offensive attack to a .320 hitting percentage, the second- mark in Pac-10 history.
Burkholder also took home the top conference prize as she was named the Pacific 10 Conference player of the year.
Seniors outside hitter Allison Napier and middle blacker Marisa DaLee joined Burkholder as All-Pac-10 performers.
"To win the conference, to have the conference player of the year and two others be honored as Pac-10 first teamers, just makes me so very proud of the entire team," Rubio said.
This season marked the end for senior defensive specialist Elvina Clark as well as Napier and DaLee, key components in the team's overall success.
"You can never replace experience and great leadership," Rubio said. " All three of these players brought something different to the table. Marisa was one of the best attackers in the country and Ally became one of the best hitters in the conference."
DaLee finished her career as Arizona's all-time hitting percentage leader with a career .397 hitting percentage.
She also became only the second player in UA history to be honored as three time Pac-10 Honoree and the first to be honored in three consecutive seasons.
During the season, Napier became just the eighth player in Arizona history to record a match with 30 or more kills. She recorded 34 kills on Arizona's "Senior Night" versus Arizona State.
"Our seniors were great for us," junior outside hitter Jill Talbot said. "They set a great example on and off the court. With Ally and Marisa at the net, those are scary girls for the opponents to have to go up against. They made us such a dominating team to face."
Even though the Wildcats are losing three seniors, they have plenty of firepower returning for next season.
Next season, Burkholder and Talbot will take on the leadership role for Arizona and they are excited about the opportunity.
"I want to be a leader on and off the court," Talbot said. "I want our younger players to look up to me. I though won't be the only leader. Dana will definitely be one of the leaders and were have so many players returning that everyone will be a leader in their own way."
UA also returns sophomores outside hitter Lisa Rutledge and Shannon Torregrosa as well as middle blocker Stefani Saragosa.
Saragosa was hindered last season by a chronic shoulder injury, but Rubio said that she is recovering ahead of schedule.
During the past two months, UA has competed in a few off season tournaments. Rubio said he is excited about the possibilities for next season.
"We have had a terrific spring," Rubio said. " Everyone has had a great spring and this is the best team I have coached during the spring season. We will be very good next season."
