By
Kamy Shaygan
Arizona Daily Wildcat
No. 10 Wildcats open season Friday in San Diego.
UA head women's volleyball coach David Rubio is expected to announce the starting lineups for the No. 10 Wildcats this week before heading off to the University of San Diego for the team's first tournament of the fall season.
Expected starters for the Wildcats include junior Dana Burkholder at starting setter, senior Marisa DaLee at starting middle blocker and junior Jill Talbot as an opposite middle blocker.
Although Rubio has most of his starting lineup in place, there are still a few open positions waiting to be filled.
"We're still trying to see who fits better in the left-side attacking role opposite Lisa Rutledge - (it will be either) Shannon Torregrosa or Allison Napier," Rubio said. "Were still waiting to see how things go this week in practice."
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Rutledge, a sophomore outside hitter, is expected to return today from a minor ankle injury suffered last week in practice. The San Diego native finished second on the team with 296 kills in 1999.
Despite being without one of his starters for the past week, Rubio felt Rutledge's injury was a good opportunity for his reserves to see substantial practice time.
"It gave us a chance to see how everyone will react without Lisa being in the lineup." Rubio said. "She will be playing on Monday,"
The starting outside hitter was practicing in a game of doubles when she injured her ankle.
"We were playing doubles, and I came down on my ankle and it popped out," Rutledge said. "I should be able to play on Monday, and I should be ready for our San Diego tournament on Friday."
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The Wildcats will have a mentally-tough week at practice before heading to San Diego for their first tournament of the season.
Rubio believes that it takes more than just practice to produce a successful volleyball team, though.
"It takes a lot to build a team," Rubio said. "Right now, even though everyone knows the system and knows where they should be, there is also the intangible side of a team."
According to Rubio, the team can improve on more than just the physical aspect of the game.
"(Intangibles such as) competitiveness, the chemistry and how they fight through adversity in moments of a game," Rubio said. "I think we can get better in those areas."
