KEVIN KLAUS

Junior defensive specialist Rachel Williams attempts a dig earlier this season in McKale Center. The Wildcats head to Tempe tomorrow night to take on ASU.

Friday November 2, 2001

Despite being the favorite, UA not taking ASU lightly

Two teams heading in opposite directions will collide tomorrow night in an in-state showdown when the No. 4 UA women's volleyball team will travel to Tempe to take on ASU.

Arizona (15-3 overall, 10-3 Pacific 10 Conference) is in the midst of a seven-match winning streak, while the Sun Devils (7-12, 2-9 Pac-10) have lost eight of their last 10 matches. To add to ASU's problems, the Devils are 0-7 against ranked opponents this season.

That doesn't mean that Arizona players are taking their in-state rivals lightly.

Senior outside hitter Jill Talbot said she has failed to put together a dominating performance against the Sun Devils on the road in her career.

"We just want to go out and play a good match," Talbot said. "If we crush them, that would be great. It would be really nice to beat them badly as a way for me to say my goodbye."

With the Pac-10 season entering its final three weeks, UA head coach David Rubio said his team is aware that they can't afford to overlook ASU.

"When we face ASU, records and rankings mean nothing," Rubio said. "They always come out ready to play, and this weekend won't be any different. I expect them to come out and give us everything they (have) got."

Arizona - playing without junior outside hitter Shannon Torregrosa, who was serving a one-game suspension - handed the Sun Devils a 3-1 defeat earlier this season in McKale Center.

For ASU to stay close, it's going to have to find a way to shut down Torregrosa, who was named the AVCA National Player of the Week for her efforts against No. 5 USC and No. 6 UCLA last weekend.

On the season, Torregrosa averages 4.05 kills per game, good for fifth in the Pac-10.

"Since she has returned, we have all played great," senior setter Dana Burkholder said. "We all went through the struggles when Shannon was suspended and it brought us closer together. Everyone on our team deserves credit for our improved play."

Offensively, the Sun Devils will counter with senior outside hitter Jamie Coughlin, who is currently ninth in the Pac-10 with a 3.79 per game kill average, and leads the Pac-10 in digs with a 3.65 per game average.

Also, ASU sophomore outside hitter Kim Mehlhorn has accumulated double- digits in kills in eight straight matches.

However, ASU's offensive attack have to overcome two UA players - junior middle blocker Stefani Saragosa and senior middle blocker Erin Sebbas - who helped the Wildcats out-block the Bruins 11-1 in their recent victory last weekend.

As a team the Wildcats have held their opponents to .187 average hitting percentage this season, third-best in the Pac-10.

On paper, Burkholder said the Wildcats should be able to dominate, but a trip to Tempe never seems to come easy for any UA sports team.

Last season, Arizona battled back from a 0-2 deficit to defeat the Sun Devils in five games.

"We are all fired up to get on the court," Burkholder said. "We never seem to play well there and Jill (Talbot) and I are determined to kick some ass. All of us, especially the seniors, want to close them out."