JON HELGASON

Senior opposite hitter Jill Talbot and senior middle blocker Erin Sebbas attempt to block a kill by an Arizona State player Friday in McKale Center. The Wildcats would beat ASU, but lose to Stanford yesterday.

Monday October 8, 2001

The UA volleyball team began its most important stretch of the season this weekend against Arizona State and Stanford.

The Wildcats' game on Friday against the Sun Devils marked the first of five games within a week for the Wildcats.

No. 7 Arizona (8-3 overall, 3-3 Pacific 10 Conference) defeated ASU 3-1, but met its match when it took on No. 4 Stanford (12-1, 5-0).

The match featured the return of junior outside hitter Shannon Torregrosa, who was suspended earlier in the week by UA head coach David Rubio for behavioral issues.

Even with the return of Torregrosa, Stanford was able to hold off the Wildcats for a 3-2 victory.

Arizona took the first game 30-24, but the Wildcats dropped the next two games 24-30, 26-30.

UA took control of the fourth game with an early 6-2 lead, but Stanford managed to come back, at one point taking a 25-20 lead.

However, UA responded by winning the next six points to regain the lead 26-25, and taking the game 31-29.

Junior outside hitter Lisa Rutledge scored eight of the Wildcats' final 10 points in their come-from-behind, game-four victory.

"In game four, we did a nice job serving and receiving," Rubio said. "It was a very nice comeback for us. I feel that we had a chance to win games two and three, but we just made too many errors."

The fifth and deciding game, which is only played to 15 points, did not go well for Arizona.

Stanford won 15-10 to take the match.

After losing to No. 3 USC and No. 5 UCLA last weekend, the Wildcats have dropped three straight conference matches to top-10 opponents.

Stanford sophomore setter Anna Robinson told the Stanford radio network that she was impressed with UA's effort in the loss.

"Arizona always fights and works hard," Robinson said. "They are always tough, and they really played great (yesterday), but we came out with our game face ready to go."

Torregrosa led the way for the Wildcats with 20 kills, but had a .080 hitting percentage. Her 20 kills were offset by a match-high 16 errors.

Talbot added 17 kills, but hit .273, well below her Pac-10-leading .500 hitting percentage.

Although the team was able to come back in the fourth game, Rubio said he has noticed a disturbing tendency in his team.

"We have been showing a clear pattern so far this season," Rubio said. "Versus good teams, we seem to break down at the wrong time. When the score is 25-22 or 25-23, we are not executing well. That is something that we definitely have to work on."

The difference in the match was the defense of both teams.

Stanford out-hit Arizona .362 to .221 and out-blocked the Wildcats, 17-5.

Arizona also committed a season-high 41 errors.

Even though the Wildcats lost a tough match, the weekend was not a total disappointment for Arizona.

UA defeated the Sun Devils 3-1, to break its two-match slide.

The ASU match started out horrendously for the Wildcats as the Sun Devils began game one on an 8-0 run.

Arizona fought back, but its comeback came up short.

ASU won the first game 31-29, but that would be the only scare the Wildcats received from their in-state rival.

Arizona went on to win the next three games 30-16, 30-25 and 30-22.

"Personally, I was not going to allow our team to lose this match," Talbot said. "That was just the mentality that I had. Even dropping the first game, I knew we would not let them win."

The story of the match for the Wildcats was the play of sophomore outside hitter Christina Frost, who started in place of the suspended Torregrosa.

"I can't say enough about Christina Frost," Rubio said. "She stepped in and just played an absolutely terrific match. For her to come in under those circumstances and play that well is pretty remarkable."

Frost finished the match with a career-high 12 kills along with 12 digs.

"I had big shoes to fill with the loss of Shannon." Frost said. "I came in, and I wanted to help the team as much as I could. I just came out and played hard."

With the loss of Torregrosa, senior middle blocker Erin Sebbas, senior All-American setter Dana Burkholder and Talbot led the Wildcats.

Sebbas finished the match with 13 kills on a .417 hitting percentage.

Burkholder finished the match with a season-high 54 assists.

"I thought Dana, Jill and Erin Sebbas were exceptional," Rubio said. "Erin played a great match. She was aggressive and assertive in all aspects of her game. It was a career game for her."

Arizona will look to get back on track tonight as they conclude its Bay Area road trip against California.