DAVID HARDEN/Arizona Daily Wildcat UA freshman Rochelle Ruen is working on her game in the offseason in preparation for becoming Arizona's starting setter next season.

Freshman setter prepares to fill Burkholder's shoes

Four years ago, the UA women's volleyball team was struggling for an identity. That all changed when Arizona head coach David Rubio recruited graduating senior setter Dana Burkholder.

Burkholder went on to become a two-time All-American and the most talented setter in UA history.

Besides all of her individual accomplishments, Burkholder led the Wildcats to their first-ever Final Four last season and first Pacific 10 Conference Championship two seasons ago.

However, like every collegiate athlete, her career must come to an end, and the school and player must move on.

But Burkholder definitely leaves big shoes to fill.

The player looked to in her absence is freshman setter Rochelle Ruen, who spent her first season studying Burkholder's game and waiting for the chance to take over the reins of the UA volleyball team.

Now, Ruen's day has come.

However, Rubio is not looking for Ruen to replace Burkholder, which he said would be an impossible task to ask of any player.

"Dana understands what it takes to be a true champion," Rubio said. "She was the heart and soul of our team. I know that Rochelle can't replace Dana, but she can bring something different to the court. She is an outstanding player, and she is so composed and poised for a young player. It would be an impossible task to ask her to try to take over for a legend."

Ruen, a native of Hope, Idaho, came to Arizona as a highly coveted high school recruit. The freshman's high school accomplishments included twice being named Gatorade State Player of the Year and state most valuable player.

Knowing that she was going to spend the majority of her first season on the bench, Ruen had an opportunity to see what it took to be the nation's best setter, and she made the most of it.

"Dana was such a great player," Ruen said. "She was such a hard worker. Her best quality that she brought to the court was her leadership. That is definitely the quality I am going to try to imitate."

Burkholder said Ruen has to focus on improving her technique, which can only happen through experience.

"She has improved since the end of the season," Burkholder said. "She needs to improve her technique to take some of the pressure off herself. The only thing that I think will be hard for her is to fulfill the leadership role. She realizes that she doesn't have to be me on the court. She just has to be a team player, and she knows that."

With the tough challenge of replacing Burkholder and trying to lead UA back to the Final Four, Ruen has looked to junior middle blocker Stefani Saragosa for guidance.

"It is a lot easier having so many older players on the team to help me," Ruen said. "Stefani has been a big help, and she has helped all of the young players."

Saragosa said she loves having an opportunity to help Ruen transition into an everyday player.

"I remember when I was a freshman coming in, and it is tough," Saragosa said. "She gets feedback from every player on our team, both good and bad, and she never breaks. She takes what we say and she improves. Most freshmen usually break, but she hasn't."

Last season, UA got a taste of what it is like to reach the NCAA Final Four, and it has aspirations of returning next season.

For that to occur, Ruen is going to need to be a player that everyone can count on.

Even though she is inexperienced, Saragosa said there is no one else she would rather have than Ruen to replace Burkholder.

"People have to allow Rochelle to grow into Rochelle and not Dana," Saragosa said. "She just needs time to do that. She practices really hard every day, and every player on this team is behind her. We are confident in her ability, and we know the player that she can be. Once she reaches that point, she will be a great player."

With the team in the midst of spring practice, Ruen realizes what it is going to take to keep UA amongst the nation's top volleyball programs.

"It is tough trying to replace Dana, but I bring different things to the court," Ruen said. "I realize that I have a lot of training ahead. I hope that I will be able to keep the program on top and lead them to a national championship."

That question will be answered in the fall, when Ruen suits up for the first time as the starting setter for the Wildcats.