By
Kamy Shaygan
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Napier finds consistency, dominates as senior
"You're once, twice, three times a lady." - Lionel Richie
Perhaps no other Motown lyric better describes Arizona senior outside hitter Allison Napier.
Napier, who has played a vital role in the success of the UA volleyball team this season, loves to listen to old R&B jams before gametime.
"I love old Motown stuff - all the slow jams," Napier said. "I love Stevie Wonder."
Who knew that Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Lionel Richie could improve one's consistency?
The music-loving native of Santa Ana, Calif., has seemingly put her game together in her final season with the Wildcats after struggling to perform in her past three seasons.
Napier's consistency has helped Arizona become one of the most victorious teams in the nation. The Wildcats have won their last 14 matches, setting a new Arizona record for consecutive wins.
The 2000 Arizona volleyball team has also tied the record for the best start in school history - 14-1 overall, 7-0 Pacific 10 Conference.
"The excitement of the season for me stems first because I am a senior and I realized it was my last one," Napier said. "I knew we were going to be good, but I didn't expect us to come off as well as we did. It's really exciting to see that."
Napier is averaging 3.33 kills and 1.36 digs per game this season. The senior has stepped up her game when it has counted the most this season.
Napier set a career high in kills with 21 against the California and added 16 kills against Stanford earlier in the season.
Moreover, the senior will try to set a new career high in kills against USC - a team she is not fond of - this upcoming week at the McKale Center.
"I don't like USC," Napier said. "To me, it seems they haven't earned the respect that they have been given. I think that some teams like USC are put up there on this pedestal where they don't belong."
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Napier's dislike for USC is that she was about to become a Trojan out of high school - as a basketball player.
"Even going out of high school, I didn't know which one I was going to play until I committed here," Napier said. "I was such a late bloomer in volleyball, nobody wanted to pick me up."
As for her decision of becoming a Wildcat over a Trojan, Napier has no doubt she made the right decision.
"I have no regrets," Napier said. "I love my team and I love the growth I have had since I've been here."
Napier credits much of her success to Arizona head coach David Rubio.
"He's an outstanding coach," she said. "In terms of skill and preparation, he's unbelievable."
Napier's transition as a player hasn't been lost on Rubio, either.
"I'm so excited," Rubio said. "She's just a completely different player than she has been in the past. She's just really become a tremendous player for us."
Although Napier is in her fourth season with the Wildcats, she still does not have a favorite volleyball moment.
"Hopefully it hasn't happened yet," Napier said. "I want to save that one for this year."
According to Napier, this might be the year the Wildcats finally net a national championship.
"This is the first year I have ever looked at the top five (teams) and actually believe we can beat anybody there," Napier said. "If we go on the road were going, anything is possible."
The cool and relaxed senior plans on finishing her English major this spring and aspires to become a high school teacher and help kids.
"Where I was from, a lot of kids thought they were all bad and stuff," Napier said. "I want to deal with people like that. I just want to be able to show them other things."
