Tuesday August 21, 2001 |

Women's soccer team picked to finish No. 9 in Pac-10

The UA women's soccer team has taken great lengths to try to improve off a 3-15-2 overall record in 2000. Apparently, Pacific 10 Conference coaches don't think Arizona will be that much better in 2001.

Head coach Cathy Klein's Wildcats were picked to finish No. 9 in the Pac-10 in the 2001 Pacific 10 Conference Coaches' Poll, which was released yesterday afternoon.

The Wildcats, one of only three conference teams to not make the NCAA Tournament last season, received just 21 points overall and no first-place votes. Oregon finished last in the poll with just 19 points.

UCLA - last year's National Championship runner-up - was ranked No. 1 in the poll with 97 total points and eight of the league's 10 first-place votes.

California, Stanford, Washington and Southern California round out the poll's top five teams.

The Wildcats are slated to add 10 new players - including Nevada Player of the Year Vanesha Bailey - to the team. UA opens its season Aug. 31 against Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb.

Mackovic closes practices to public; media still welcome

If first-year head coach John Mackovic is going to turn the UA football program around, he's going to do so privately.

Mackovic, who was hired in early December to replace Dick Tomey, announced yesterday that Wildcat practices will be closed to the public but open to Tucson media outlets.

It is unknown whether the coach's decision had anything to do with the Wildcats' performance in Saturday night's "Fan Appreciation Night" and intrasquad scrimmage. Following the 90-minute controlled scrimmage, an upset Mackovic said the Wildcats' on-field offensive play was "sloppy."

"It was as poorly as we've performed all fall on offense," he said. "We didn't show that we are ready to polish (our play) and get ready to play a game."

The UA Sports Information Office said visiting media - those covering UA opponents - will be allowed into Wildcat practices at Mackovic's discretion.

While closing practices in an attempt to foster secrecy is commonplace in college football, Tomey closed practices only on rare occasions.

The UA football team will open the 2001 season Aug. 30 when they take on San Diego State at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif.

Volleyball alum make their return

The defending Pac-10 champion Arizona volleyball team will host its first annual alumni match this Saturday at 9 a.m. Returning to campus to take on the current squad are Barb Bell, Arizona's all-time leader in kills, current associate head coach Charita Johnson, Michelle Malis (nee Bartsch) and two standouts from last year's Elite Eight team, Marisa DaLee and Allison Napier.

The event is free to the public and will feature all the new rules that are in effect for the 2001 season, including rally scoring. For further information please contact the Arizona Volleyball Office at 621-4885.