file photo

UA senior opposite side hitter Jill Talbot attempts a kill against an opponent earlier this season in McKale Center.

Wednesday October 24, 2001

Wildcats face No. 3 USC, No. 6 UCLA with Pac-10 title implications

UCLA may come to Tucson to take on the UA women's volleyball team Friday without All-American outside hitter Kristee Porter, who was suspended indefinitely by the Bruins' athletic department yesterday for a violation of team rules.

UCLA learned of the possibility that Porter received items considered by the NCAA to be "extra benefits" from a person Porter has been friends with for three years.

Under NCAA rules, benefits are permissible if the relationship between the student-athlete and friend pre-dates an athlete's status as a collegiate prospect.

Currently, the individual who gave Porter the unknown "extra benefits" is a part-time occupant at Porter's apartment.

UCLA associate athletic director Betsy Stephenson said the UCLA athletic department has investigated the matter and forwarded a report to the NCAA.

"We recently were made aware of a possible violation in connection with Kristee," Stephenson told the UCLA Media Relations Department. "We feel it is in the best interest of the university to withhold her from matches until we receive a decision from the NCAA."

However, UA head coach David Rubio expects Porter to be in action when the Wildcats take on the Bruins.

"I think Kristee Porter will be back," Rubio said. "Things involving these types of violations usually get resolved in a few days. Unless there are other violations, I don't see her missing the match Friday."

UA senior outside hitter Jill Talbot said that even though Porter is an All-American, UCLA remains of the best teams in the nation without her.

The Wildcats are currently riding a five-match winning streak, and are suddenly back in the hunt for a second-straight Pacific 10 Conference title.

During this streak, UA moved from fifth to third in the Pac-10 standings.

Currently, the Wildcats (13-3 overall, 8-3 Pac-10) are tied with the Bruins (10-4, 5-3 Pac-10) for third in the conference.

No. 3 USC (14-1, 8-0 Pac-10) leads the Pac-10, with Stanford (16-2, 8-1 Pac-10) one match behind.

The Wildcats trail the Trojans by three games.

However, the Wildcats will have an opportunity to gain ground when they play host to the Trojans tomorrow night and the Bruins on Friday in McKale Center.

Rubio said he is not as concerned with the conference standings as he is the consistent improvement his team has shown in the past two weeks.

"History has shown that winning the conference is not needed to be a national title contender," Rubio said. "If we run the table, it doesn't guarantee us anything. We understand there are great teams in the conference. Our main focus is to play our best going into the postseason."

Senior outside hitter Jill Talbot agrees with Rubio's philosophy.

"Winning the conference was important for us last year because it was the first time it was accomplished," Talbot said. "We have higher goals this season. We want to contend for a national championship, and that is more important to us."

The UA football team takes on the Trojans as well this weekend, but USC football head coach Pete Carroll will have his eyes on the Wildcats-Trojans volleyball match the day before his team takes the field.

Carroll's daughter, sophomore Jaime Carroll, is a defensive specialist for The Women of Troy volleyball team. The Trojans handed the Wildcats a 3-0 defeat earlier in the season, and Pete Carroll said that USC is capable of the same type of performance on the road.

"USC's team is pretty good," Pete Carroll said. "They are off to great start, and things are going good for them right now. They are a very young and talented group that will give you a good game on the road."