|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Volleyball looking to live up to expectations
|
|
file photo
|
|
By UA senior setter and first-team preseason All-American Dana Burkholder celebrates with a teammate last year during a match at the McKale Center. The Wildcats are ranked 6th in the nation in the Preseason USA Today/AVCA Coaches Poll.
|
Monday August 20, 2001 |
Arizona Daily Wildcat
UA ranked 6th in country in preseason poll
Despite losing three seniors to graduation, the Arizona volleyball team will enter the upcoming season with high hopes and expectations.
The Wildcats put Arizona volleyball on the map last season by reaching the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, finishing the season ranked No. 5 in the nation. UA's top-five finish was the highest ranking in school history.
The team finished with a 28-5 mark to go along with a share of the Pacific 10 Conference championship, the first in team history.
This year UA has earned respect from opposing coaches with a preseason No. 6 ranking in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Poll.
"I really don't pay much attention to the rankings," UA head coach David Rubio said. "It's nice to be in the top 10, and our ranking is representative of the team we are returning."
The AVCA poll also ranked defending national champion Nebraska No. 1. USC, Penn State, Wisconsin and Hawaii round out the top five.
Senior setter Dana Burkholder was pleased with the team's preseason ranking but was also disappointed that the Wildcats were not ranked ahead of No. 5 Hawaii.
"Sixth is good, but I feel we could have been fifth," Burkholder said. "We are all proud to be ranked this high and we know that we deserve it. It's time now to move on and forget about the rankings and concentrate on preparing for the upcoming season."
Arizona's returning class includes All American and Pac-10 Player of the Year Burkholder as well as senior outside hitter Jill Talbot and junior outside hitter Lisa Rutledge. Both were All-Pac-10 Honorable Mention selections last year.
"All of our upperclassmen returning will add leadership in their own way," Rubio said. "All of our seniors are great as well as our juniors. We are just lucky enough to have as many leaders as we have on our team."
Rubio said Arizona is ahead of schedule because of the hard work the team put in during spring and summer practices.
"Our work ethic all summer has been great," Rubio said. "Our new players are learning our system little by little each day. Overall, we are further ahead than I expected."
Another bright spot for the Wildcats will be the return of junior middle blocker Stefani Saragosa, who battled various injuries all of last season.
"This is the first time that she has been fully healthy since her freshman year," Rubio said. "She brings a lot of fire and intensity to the court. It will be great to have her back and healthy."
Burkholder is excited about Saragosa's return as well.
"It will be nice to be able to have her healthy so we can get our timing down," Burkholder said. "It's also awesome for the team to have her back in the lineup."
The Wildcats kick off the 2001 season Aug. 31 in Gainesville, Fla., in the Florida SunTrust Invitational.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Webmaster - webmaster@wildcat.arizona.edu
© Copyright 2001 - The Arizona Daily Wildcat - Arizona Student Media
|
