By
Kamy Shaygan
Arizona Daily Wildcat
DaLee leads Wildcats - her own way
Senior middle blocker Marisa DaLee isn't your typical volleyball player. She's, well, a little different - like one of her favorite athletes, Dennis Rodman.
"(Rodman's) my favorite just because he is so interesting and different," DaLee said.
Just as Rodman dominated rebounding in basketball, DaLee, a Phoenix native, is dominating the sport of volleyball with her devastating kills and fiery attitude.
The senior middle blocker owns numerous Arizona records, including hitting percentage records for a match (.750), season (.386), and career (.379) and is considered to be among the top middle blockers in the country.
"It's exciting that people say I'm the best but I don't really think of it," DaLee said. "Dave (Rubio) says it a lot in practice but I just want to play against the best middle blockers in the country."
The accolades have come quickly to DaLee this season. This week, the senior was named the Pacific 10 Conference's Volleyball Player of the Week for the third time in her Wildcat career.
DaLee has been named to numerous all-tournament teams throughout her UA career - most recent being at the Starwoods Plaza Wildcat Classic on Sept. 9.
"It's always an honor because they recognize you and your team," DaLee said. "It shows a lot for Arizona and where we have come."
One of only three seniors on the team, DaLee has been counted on to be a team leader and lead by example both on and off the court.
"She's a great impact player," sophomore outside hitter Lisa Rutledge said. "She's a very good leader because she leads by example and not all talk. I really look up to her for that."
DaLee is also a fiery and consistent player. She has appeared in 256 straight games for Arizona, the fifth longest streak in school history.
"I just feel really confident out there and I am playing every game like it's my last time," DaLee said. "I am just having fun because I have nothing to loose."
Her confidence has shown too, as DaLee helped the Wildcats overpower No. 15 BYU and No. 18 Utah last weekend on the road.
DaLee hit .462 with 16 kills and six blocks against the Cougars and logged a .625 kill percentage with 11 kills and five blocks against the Utes.
The final game against Utah marked the sixth-straight game in which DaLee has hit .400 or better.
"Marisa is our steady rock and she is always there to have a good game for us," sophomore middle blocker Stefani Saragosa said.
The senior middle blocker may be saving her best effort for next weekend when UA hosts Stanford at McKale Center.
DaLee will have to be at her best, using her leadership and playing skills in the most anticipated game of the season.
"I just have never beaten Stanford, so I am really looking forward to playing them this year," DaLee said.
If DaLee does succeed, it will be due in part to a strange pregame habit - aspirin.
"I take Ibuprofen before matches," she said. "I had a good game last year when I took some so now I always take them."
A win against the Cardinal would replace DaLee's favorite memory as a Wildcat.
"(Senior) Allie (Napier) and I, our redshirt year - right before midnight madness - ... played in front of 8,000 people against Oregon State," DaLee said. "We won in the fifth game and we blocked the last ball. It was really exciting."
Life is about more than just volleyball for the senior, however.
DaLee - who will likely graduate this spring with a communications degree - is planning on entering the world of television.
"I want to go into television for post-game and half-time reports for basketball." DaLee said.
Her passion for the game of basketball comes from her all-time favorite athlete, former Wildcat Sean Rooks.
"He was my mentor and he helped me out a lot," she said.
After graduation, DaLee is planning on moving near the beaches of Southern California.
"Tucson is such a small town that nothing is new anymore," DaLee said. "The beach is where I belong."
The senior is not moving near the ocean to practice her beach volleyball however.
"I've never played or even tried beach volleyball," DaLee said. "I just like to lay out and go in the ocean. I don't touch a volleyball when I'm done practicing. I'd rather do lots of other stuff."
