By
Brian Penso
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Wildcats face USC and UCLA this weekend for a shot at first-ever conference championship
For the first time all season Arizona's volleyball team becomes the hunted, not the hunter.
UCLA's and USC's volleyball teams have been both waiting for its chance to overtake Arizona and claim first place in the Pacific 10 Conference. They'll get that chance this weekend.
The No. 3 Wildcats (22-2 overall, 14-1 Pac-10) travel to Los Angeles to take on the No. 6 Trojans and No. 7 Bruins in pivotal conference games.
With only three games left in the season, UA's hold a game and a-half lead over USC and UCLA.
With a sweep, Arizona would win its first ever conference title.
"In my four years, this is by far the biggest series I have ever played in," senior middle blocker Marisa DaLee said. "It is just like a Final Four weekend."
UA head coach David Rubio is downplaying the series, saying he is more concerned with the teams improvement and success while preparing for the postseason.
"The Pac-10 Championship has never been a major goal of mine," Rubio said. "I concentrate more on the postseason. If we win the conference, it would be icing on cake and a good way to end the regular season and enter the postseason."
Coaches from both teams realize conference title has come down to this weekend.
"Obviously there is going to be great volleyball played this weekend," USC interim head coach Jerritt Elliott said. "Everything is on the line and every team controls its own fate."
UA first takes on the Trojans (19-2, 12-2) tonight.
Arizona puts its perfect 10-0 season road record on the line and attempts to be the first team defeat the USC at North Gym as the Trojans are 9-0 at home.
The Wildcats defeated the Trojans earlier in the season 3-0 at McKale Center. Rubio said it was the best match UA has played all season.
"Versus USC, we were clicking on all cylinders," Rubio said. "Every aspect of our game was on."
The Wildcats are going to have to play just as well in order to overcome the Trojan fans and come away with a victory.
"USC is known for its rowdy fans," junior setter Dana Burkholder said. "It will be packed (tonight), but it won't affect us at all. We just need to play our game."
Arizona needs to shut down USC's offensive trio of freshman outside hitter April Ross, junior middle blocker Jennifer Pahl and senior outside hitter Janae Henry to be successful in Los Angeles. All three average over three kills per game.
Unlike the Trojans, UCLA (18-5, 12-2) is led by a possible NCAA National Player of the Year candidate, junior outside hitter Kristee Porter, who is fourth in the nation with 496 kills on a 5.90 kill per game average.
In UA's first meeting with the Bruins, Porter led the Bruins to victory with 35 kills and 26 digs.
"She is a great player, but she is only one player, DaLee said. "We just need to stay focused and play our game."
To counter Porter, Arizona will look for an overall team effort.
DaLee, who is currently second in the nation with a .455 kill percentage, and Burkholder, who is No. 15 in the nation in assists with a 13.86 assist per game, will need to continue their strong play, but other players will need to step up for the Wildcats to have a good weekend.
In the past two weeks, sophomore outside hitter Lisa Rutledge has come into her own and become a force for other teams to reckoned with.
"Lisa has been doing a great job," Burkholder said. "I think she is only going to get better and she is a huge contributor to our team."
UA players said that, at times this season, they have felt unstoppable.
"When we are on top of our game I feel that no one can beat us," junior outside hitter Jill Talbot said. "Hopefully we can come together this weekend and play the way we are capable of."
