By
Brian Penso
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Saragosa remains sidelined
Senior middle blocker Marisa DaLee was named Pacific 10 Conference Volleyball Player of the Week Monday.
During the Arizona volleyball team's weekend series with California and Stanford, DaLee had a hitting percentage of .556 with 27 kills on 45 attempts while only committing two errors.
"This was the first weekend in a long time that I have seen Marisa go up with the intent and determination to terminate every ball," head coach David Rubio said. "She was as big and aggressive as I have seen her. She was just crushing every ball."
DaLee is currently No. 3 in the nation in hitting percentage with a .448 average.
The award is DaLee's second honor of the season and the fourth of her career.
"An award like this shows how the team is forming and coming together," Rubio said. "Marisa would not have such great numbers if it were not for the great setting of Dana (Burkholder) and Dana's sets would not be as good if it were not for great passing. This is definitely a team award."
The fifth ranked Wildcats completed their first road sweep of California and No. 17 Stanford in school history.
By completing a season sweep of both schools, the Wildcats have moved one step closer to being considered a Pac-10 powerhouse in volleyball.
"These wins are a very important signal," head coach David Rubio said. "This is a sign of the shifting of powers"
Rubio also said that a season sweep of Stanford will help recruiting because Stanford has always been considered one of the Pac-10's top programs.
"For recruiting purposes, this is a sign to all potential players in the country," Rubio said.
The players, though, said they expected the sweep.
"In the past we have been a team on the way up," senior outside hitter Allison Napier said. "Now we are on top, and we have higher expectations then sweeping Cal and Stanford. It is nice to have swept them, but it really does not fire us up."
UA sophomore middle blocker Stefani Saragosa is still recovering from tendonitis in her right arm.
Saragosa has been out for two weeks and her condition is now listed day to day.
"Stefani is feeling much better," Rubio said. "We expect her to swing a lot more this week."
Rubio, though, is in no hurry to rush Saragosa back, due to the play of sophomore outside hitter Shannon Torregrosa and junior middle blocker Erin Sebbas, who have filled in nicely.
The players though are excited for Saragosa's return because of her importance to the team, especially as the season comes to a close and the NCAA Tournament begins.
"Even though Shannon and Erin are playing great, it would be great to get Stefani back," Burkholder said. "She is a very integral part of our team."
There is no date set for the sophomore's return.
With a win against Cal, the Wildcats tied a school record for Pac-10 victories with 12. There are five conference matches left in the season.
"This shows how consistent we have been all season," Napier said. "We are all about one thing and that is taking care of business."
With all of the success Arizona has experienced this season, the coaching staff has tried to downplay the team's records.
"We need to take it one match at a time," Rubio said. "The old clichˇ is don't get too far ahead of yourself."
Napier agreed.
"People have been throwing records at us all year," Napier said. "All we are doing is trying to win."
