KEVIN KLAUS

UA senior opposite side hitter Jill Talbot attempts a kill against USC last week in McKale Center. After sweeping the Trojans and UCLA, the Wildcats moved up to No.4 in the nation yesterday.

Thursday November 1, 2001

UA players continue to dominate conference statistics

The UA women's volleyball team moved up three spots to No. 4 in the AVCA/USA Coaches Poll after dominating performances against Southern California and UCLA last weekend put the Wildcats back in the Pacific 10 Conference championship hunt.

UA (15-3 overall, 10-3 Pac-10) moved ahead of conference foe USC (15-2, 9-1 Pac-10), who dropped to fifth.

Even though USC has a better record than the Wildcats, Arizona's 3-0 dismantling of the Trojans was enough evidence for UA to overtake the Trojans in the polls.

Long Beach State tops the poll, with Nebraska and Stanford rounding out the top three. UCLA dropped to No.8 with its loss to UA.

This marked the ninth consecutive week that four Pac-10 teams are ranked in the top 10.

UA head coach David Rubio said that although the AVCA rankings are a credit to the success of the UA program, they don't play a factor in the mindset of his players.

"There is so much volleyball left to be played," Rubio said. "If we start getting involved with rankings, we as a team will lose focus. I am going to work the girls very hard to ensure that they stay focused for (Saturday's) match with Arizona State."

Wildcat senior outside hitter Jill Talbot agreed.

"Rankings and records are out of our control," Talbot said. "We can only control ourselves, and that is what we have to do. If we do that, then everything else will work itself out."

Rubio gave the team a day off yesterday in an attempt to rest his players after last week's match.

A normal practice week usually consists of practices on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with scheduled matches on Friday and Saturday.

With only one match this week, Rubio decided it would better to practice on Monday and Tuesday in order to give the players a day off yesterday.

"Mentally, players need a break," Rubio said. "You can't practice for four or five days straight and stay focused. Giving them a day off will allow each player to be ready to go for two more good practices before our match with ASU."

Rubio said he realizes that his players need be given an opportunity to effectively balance their practice schedule and schoolwork.

"Right now, everyone has so much academics that need to be done," Rubio said. "I have to make sure I keep the players balanced between volleyball and academics."

Besides moving up in the national polls, Arizona improved statistically in many categories in the Pac-10 in the past week.

As a team, the Wildcats now lead the Pac-10 in hitting percentage with a.316 average.

Individually, Talbot stays atop the conference with a.456 hitting percentage and junior middle blocker Stefani Saragosa moved up one spot to second with a.423 average. Senior middle blocker Erin Sebbas is 10th in the conference with a .332 average.

Arizona is the only school in the Pac-10 to have three players in the top 10 in hitting percentage.

In addition, UA junior outside hitter Lisa Rutledge ranks third in the Pac-10 with a 4.32 kill per game average.

Rutledge trails All-Americans Kristee Porter of UCLA and Logan Tom of Stanford, who average 5.81 and 4.72 kills per game, respectively.

UA senior setter Dana Burkholder also tightened the gap between herself and UCLA setter Erika Selsor for the conference lead in assists per game.

Selsor is first with a 13.87 assist per game average with Burkholder - an All-American - just behind her with a 12.87 assists per game average.