By
Brian Penso
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Victory sweet for seniors, Rubio
Since the inception of women's volleyball in the Pacific 10 Conference, only Stanford and UCLA have won conference titles.
Add another team to that short list.
This past Saturday, the No. 5 Arizona women's volleyball team defeated Arizona State and claimed a share of the school's first ever Pac-10 title with No. 3 USC.
"When the season is over is when we will truly understand the magnitude of what we have accomplished," UA head coach David Rubio said.
Although Arizona(24-3 overall, 16-2 Pac-10) was picked to finish fourth in the conference's preseason coaches poll, the Wildcats have been atop the conference throughout the season.
"It feels great," junior setter Dana Burkholder said. "We knew we were capable of winning the conference. It has not been an easy road for us. We have battled, and it just feels so great to accomplish this."
Arizona though had to battle to defeat ASU 12-15,15-10,15-8,15-7.
"All ASU hears is about how good Arizona is and how we are ranked," Rubio said . "I knew this was going to be a tough match,"
The UA charge was led by senior outside hitter Allison Napier, who contributed 34 kills on 79 swings to go with a .329 hitting percentage.
"With such a great crowd, I came out really pumped up," Napier said. "I let my emotions go tonight. This victory will definitely stay with me forever."
Although Arizona has many offensive options, Rubio primarily went to Napier.
"I told Dana to continue to set the big dog," Rubio said. "When a player is as hot as she was, you have to keep going to her."
The Sun Devils (17-11, 9-9) tried to counter Napier's play with its senior All - American candidate, outside hitter Amanda Burbridge.
Burbridge finished the match with a double-double with 26 kills and 18 digs.
"Amanda Burbridge was just unbelievable," Rubio said. "You have to be impressed with her play. She was just exceptional tonight."
Arizona eventually took over the match, and Rubio credits this turnaround with his team's serving and defensive play.
Sophomore middle blocker Stefani Saragosa led the way defensively with a match-high six blocks. Saragosa also added 14 kills to go with a match high .480 hitting percentage.
"Stefani is such a warrior and a great battler," Rubio said. "It was nice that she had that type of mentality tonight. If she was not assertive like that offensively, we would not have been as good."
Saragosa said her role on the team is to come in and fire up her teammates.
"That's my game," Saragosa said. "I come in fired up, and I try to fire up everyone else. I have to let them know that no one comes into our house on mine and Marisa (DaLee's) net and dominate us."
Napier said that the Pac-10 title was just the first step to a national championship.
"Winning this conference is a huge load off our back," Napier said. "This was one of our goals and now it is off our backs and we are going to move on. We need to improve so we can get better and try to win a national championship."
With the title, Arizona will now begin its run towards the playoffs and its opportunity at a national championship.
"Its definitely the sweetest thing so far," Saragosa said. " All the work we have done has paid off. We have a taste of what it is like to champions, but now we want even more."
