When the season began, Debbie Larocque was the top-ranked women's tennis player at Arizona.

That quickly changed as freshman Maja Mlakar moved up the national rankings to No. 13 and Larocque saw her performance slide during the first half of the season.

With Larocque slipping, the UA tennis team hit a roadblock once it began Pacific 10 Conference play, which caused it to lose five of its first six matches in conference.

However, Larocque has come on as of late, and she has regained her preseason form.

"We've always been able to count on Debbie to perform," head coach Vicky Maes said. "She struggled early in the season, and in tennis, it's hard to regain your confidence. But Debbie's been able to do that."

In Arizona's last two matches, Larocque went 2-0 while only losing seven total games. But there is no rivalry between the two girls.

The Laval, Canada, native teams up with Mlakar in doubles play, and they have moved up the ladder to earn a No. 13 national ranking.

"I'm getting my game back," Larocque said. "I'm playing really well right now, and that just gives me more confidence. It's nice to be able to play well and help the team win."

Larocque's individual performance has correlated with the success of the Wildcats, as they have won their last two Pac-10 matches.

"It's very important to have a consistent No. 2 player," senior Brooke Taylor said. "It's hard to win any match in the Pac-10 and having a solid one-two (combination) is very important."

With Larocque's midseason improvements, Arizona has a one-two punch in Larocque and Mlakar that they hope will help continue UA's conference winning streak as it travels to the Bay Area to take on No. 4 Stanford and California.

The No. 21 Wildcats (10-8 overall, 3-5 Pac-10) realize the road ahead is not an easy one, but Larocque said UA is confident in the team's ability this weekend.

"We have a lot of confidence right now," Larocque said. "We are playing well in singles and doubles. We have been working really hard and we feel that we can play with anyone."

In its first match against Stanford, Arizona lost 2-5, which included Larocque being dominated 0-6, 0-2 in her singles match.

Larocque and Mlakar also lost its doubles match 4-8, which led to UA losing the doubles point against the Cardinal.

However, Arizona enters its second match against Stanford much improved in doubles play.

In its last two matches, against No. 18 Washington and No. 28 Washington State, the Wildcats won five of the six doubles matches.

"We are all playing really well in doubles," Larocque said. "When you win the doubles point, it gives you a lot of confidence going into singles play."

Besides Stanford, the Golden Bears will be a tough challenge for the Wildcats as California defeated UA in Tucson, 1-6, earlier in the season.

"We are very confident that we can beat anyone in the Pac-10," Taylor said. "It is just a matter of going out there and putting it all together.

With only Arizona State left on UA's schedule, this weekend marks a chance for UA to ensure themselves a winning season as well as an opportunity to move up in the Pac-10, which is the nation's toughest tennis conference.

The challenge that lies ahead begins tomorrow for the Wildcats in Palo Alto, Calif.