KEVIN KLAUS

UA junior middle blocker attempts a kill against Washington State earlier this season in McKale Center. The Wildcats take on USC tonight looking to avenge their loss to the Trojans earlier this season in Los Angeles.

Thursday October 25, 2001

It wasn't too long ago when the Wildcats were the team to beat in the Pacific 10 Conference.

The seventh-ranked UA women's volleyball team started the season by winning 24-straight games, leading to an 8-0 record.

The defending conference champions quick start earned them a No. 3 ranking, ahead of Southern California and UCLA, who were fifth and eighth, respectively. It marked the first time that the Arizona was the highest-ranked team in the Pacific 10 Conference.

Then came the first true test for UA on Sept. 20. The team traveled to Los Angeles to take on the Bruins and Trojans.

UA not only lost both matches but also were unable to win one game.

Arizona looks for redemption tonight as they play host to conference-leading No. 3 USC in McKale Center. The Trojans (14-1 overall, 8-0 Pac-10) come to Tucson as one of the nation's hottest teams.

The Women of Troy are currently riding a 13-match winning streak, which includes two recent victories over No. 14 Pepperdine and UCLA.

"USC is the best team we will play this season," UA head coach David Rubio said. "They are terrific and our ability to execute at a high level and minimize our errors will be critical for us. We also need to take advantages of the opportunities that are presented to us. The most important thing is that we have to believe that we can beat USC."

The Trojans are not the only hot team that will step on the court tonight.

The Wildcats (13-3, 8-3 Pac-10) are in the midst of a five-match winning streak as well, which has recently put them back in contention for a second straight Pac-10 conference title.

Currently, the Wildcats are third in the Pac-10, three games behind the Trojans.

During UA's first meeting with the Trojans on Sept. 21 at the Lyon's Center, USC's offensive attack was the difference in the match.

The Women of Troy finished the match with a hitting percentage of .450, which is the highest percentage a team has hit against the Wildcats this season.

Individually, five USC players hit above .400 in the match.

"We have to be ready on our side of the net," senior outside hitter Jill Talbot said. " Defense is definitely the key. We have to block well and play good behind the block. Good defense will give us second chances on offense. It will also allow us to slow down their offensive attack."

The Wildcat defense will try to contain sophomore outside hitter April Ross, who scorched the Wildcats with a match-high 16 kills on a.500 hitting percentage in the team's first meeting.

Arizona will also have to subdue sophomore middle blocker Katie Olsovsky, who was named the Pac-10 Player of the Week each of the past two weeks. It is only the second time in Pac-10 history that a player has won the honor in back-to-back weeks.

One promising aspects for the Wildcats in their first meeting with the Trojans was that they hit .305 as a team, which is the highest any opponent has hit against USC this season.

Currently, the Trojans are second in Pac-10 in holding opponents hitting percentage to a .156 average. However, the Wildcats are second in the Pac-10 with a .308 hitting percentage.

Individually, junior middle blocker Stefani Saragosa and Talbot are among the Pac-10's most effective hitters.

Talbot leads the Pac-10 with a .459 hitting percentage and Saragosa is third with a .408 average.

Talbot was the only bright spot for the Wildcats in their defeat to the Trojans earlier in the year as she tallied 14 kills on a .522 hitting percentage.

USC head coach Mick Haley said that Talbot is a player that USC has to be very concerned with because she always plays well in big games, especially against the Trojans.

Rubio also said it will be important for senior All- American setter Dana Burkholder to find a way to get Saragosa more involved in the offense, which will lead to a more balanced offensive attack.

"We are always trying to make the offense more diverse," Rubio said. "We know that Stefani has shown she can be a much more offensive force for us. We are trying to get our offense more efficient and Stefani is a big part of it."

Senior middle blocker Erin Sebbas said the most important thing for the Wildcats going into tonight's match against USC is the team's attitude and state of mind.

"Our mindset going is that we know we are going to win," Sebbas said. "It will be a well-fought, tight match, but we know what it takes to win. We know that if we play our best and give it our all that we are the same caliber team as USC."

Rubio agreed.

"Right now the team has a good frame of mind," Rubio said. "It is the best I have seen our team be mentally and emotionally since the season began. That to me plays the biggest factor in us playing well. I know that if the team is in a good place, we will be ready to play. That may or may not be enough to beat USC, but I like our chances if we come out confident in our ability as a team."

Arizona looks to reclaim its preseason luster tonight at 7 p.m. in McKale.