Jon Helgason

Sophomore outside hitter Christina Frost attempts a kill against an opponent earlier this season in McKale Center. The Wildcats take on the Washington schools this weekend.

Friday October 12, 2001

The Arizona women's volleyball team takes center stage until the clock strikes 12 tonight in McKale Center.

The Wildcats' match against Washington State marks the third time in team history that the women's volleyball team kicks off Midnight Madness festivities for the basketball team.

UA then battles Washington Saturday.

During last year's Midnight Madness, 7,298 fans showed up to support the Wildcats, the largest crowd to ever attend a UA volleyball game.

UA upset USC that night, the team's first step to its Pacific 10 Conference title.

"The biggest thing for us will be to come out energetic," junior outside hitter Lisa Rutledge said. "The crowd is going to be great, and we need to just go out and have fun."

Arizona head coach David Rubio said that is concerned with a lack of intensity and that he hopes the team will feed off the crowd's energy like it did last year against the Trojans.

"Our hope is the number of people in the stands will reflect our energy level," Rubio said. "We want to come out full of energy and excitement for both matches. We need to learn to come out with the right intensity level from the first serve and play like it is match point."

No. 7 Arizona (9-3 overall, 4-3 Pac-10) played four matches in the past week, causing Rubio to cancel Tuesday's and Wednesday's practices.

"It has been a pretty hectic week with the number of matches we have played," Rubio said. "The players are stressed out with papers and tests, and that is why I gave them two days off. By canceling practice, I am hoping that we will come out refreshed versus the Washington schools."

The Cougars (8-6, 3-4) and the Huskies (8-7, 2-5) are both much improved from the teams the Wildcats swept last season.

The Cougars returned all six starters and nine letter winners from last year's team that reached the second round of the NCAA tournament.

UA has won its last six matches against the Cougars, but Rubio said Washington State is a team the Wildcats can't afford to overlook.

"Washington State always plays a bit unorthodox, and their coaching staff has done a terrific job preparing them this season," Rubio said. "They have smaller players, but they play defense and serve well to overcome that. The key is for our serving and passing to be good. If we do that, I like our chances in both matches this weekend."

Washington comes to Tucson looking to upset the Wildcats and break a seven-match losing streak against UA.

Rubio said playing the Washington schools will force the Wildcats to be more consistent with their offensive attack.

Junior middle blocker Stefani Saragosa and senior outside hitter Jill Talbot have been Arizona's most consistent offensive players this season.

Talbot's .453 hitting percentage is sixth in the nation, and Saragosa is just behind her at No. 8 with a .442 percentage.

Rutledge is coming off a career-high 24-kill performance against California on Monday, which Rubio said was her best match to date in an Arizona uniform.

"We have to come out and not worry about the past," Rutledge said. "We have to continue to improve and become more consistent if we want to contend for a conference and national championship."

First serve is tonight at 8.