Monday October 29, 2001

UA makes quick work of UCLA

For the first time this season, the UA volleyball team is living up to expectations.

The No.7 Wildcats dismantled No. 6 UCLA Friday in front of 2,364 fans in McKale.

Arizona (15-3 overall, 10-3 Pac-10) swept the Bruins 30-22, 30-22, 30-21 to earn a 3-0 victory, a day after shutting down No. 3 USC.

The Wildcats' victory tied the season series at one win apiece.

The Bruins (11-5, 6-4 Pac-10) entered the match without All-American outside hitter Kristee Porter, who was suspended by the UCLA athletic department pending further investigation by the NCAA for possible rule violations.

UA head coach David Rubio said he was pleased with the way the Wildcats adapted to Porter's absence.

"We really played well, and we did not know what type of team we would face without Porter," Rubio said. "I was pleased to see the way we came out and did not change our focus. UCLA is still a top team, and I was glad to see that is the way the players approached this match."

UA was led by two juniors - outside hitter Shannon Torregrosa and middle blocker Stefani Saragosa - against the Bruins.

Torregrosa continued to show why Rubio believes she can be one of the best outside hitters in the nation as she scorched the Bruins for a match-high 16 kills on a career-high .433 hitting percentage.

Saragosa added nine kills on a. 533 hitting percentage.

"Whenever the ball is distributed in the middle, Erin (Sebbas) and I have to come through," Saragosa said. "They have to respect us in the middle. That is our job and we did a good job of doing that."

The junior added a match-high eight blocks in the win, which Rubio said was a turning point in the Wildcats' season.

"We have been struggling all season with our consistency," Rubio said. "What you see is the trial and tribulations we have gone through and the question marks and the doubts we have overcome. It is nice to see that we have overcome all of that adversity."

Without Porter, UA shut down the Bruins at the net with 11 total blocks, compared to only one for UCLA.

"We had something to prove," Saragosa said. "We were focused on showing them what we can do. We couldn't block in our first meeting in L.A. and we knew we needed to make the big plays. This time around we did that."

Although Arizona is in the midst of a seven-match winning streak and has knocked off two top-10 teams in as many matches, Rubio said UA will face its most rigorous week of practice in the coming days.

"All I look at is getting better," Rubio said. "When we were struggling to look ourselves in the mirror in the morning, it makes you appreciate where we have come from. I am going to absolutely drill them this week, so they don't get overconfident. I don't want them to think they can relax and it is my job to set the tone."

Torregrosa said the work ethic and dedication Rubio expects in practice is the main reason the Wildcats find themselves only two games out in conference.

"As a team, Dave is pushing us all," Torregrosa said. "We realize that we need to practice hard to be the best and that is what we are going to do."