Outside hitter may miss rest of season with sprain

file photo/Arizona Daily Wildcat

UA senior middle blocker Erin Sebbas attempts a kill against an opponent earlier this season in McKale Center. The Wildcats finished the regular season Saturday with a win over No. 23 Santa Barbara to capture the Four Points University Plaza Thanksgiving Tournament Championship.

The UA women's volleyball team finished the season by winning the Four Points University Thanksgiving Classic, but it paid a high price for the victory.

During Arizona's win over Denver Friday, junior outside hitter Shannon Torregrosa suffered an ankle sprain and could miss the entire postseason.

"The doctor said that if it is a high ankle sprain that I am out the rest of the season," Torregrosa said. "If it isn't, then I should be back in a week to a week and a half. It will be hard to sit and watch, when there is nothing that I can do to help, but I am going to rehab real hard. Hopefully, I will back as soon as possible."

Even with Torregrosa going down, the Wildcats swept Denver 3-0 (30-11, 30-20, 30-12).

UA hit a school record .537 in the win, while holding the Pioneers to a minus-.012 hitting percentage.

In the absence of Torregrosa, Rubio will look to sophomore outside hitter Christina Frost to take her spot in the starting lineup.

Frost played sparingly when Torregrosa was suspended earlier in the season and received high marks from her coach.

"Starting earlier in the season was very helpful," Frost said. "It helped me gain experience, and it helped me learn the tendencies of each of our players. Everyone will have to step up with the loss of Shannon. I think everyone did a good job of that this weekend."

Without Torregrosa, the Wildcats faced a huge test by taking on No. 23 Santa Barbara on Saturday. UA answered the challenge, dominating the Gauchos in every statistical category en route to a 3-0 (30-22, 30-19, 30-27) victory.

As a team, Arizona outhit UCSB .348 to .143 and outblocked them at the net 8-4.

Arizona was led by its seniors - setter Dana Burkholder, outside hitter Jill Talbot and middle blocker Erin Sebbas - in the sweep.

Burkholder finished the match with 44 assists and seven kills on a .500 hitting percentage, and added 17 digs in the win.

Talbot notched 10 kills, 15 digs and eight assists.

The middle blockers played a big role for the Wildcats against the Gauchos, as Sebbas and junior Stefani Saragosa finished with 13 and nine kills, respectively.

But the biggest contribution came from Frost, who finished second on the team with 12 kills.

"I am happy with the way that I played, but I have many areas I have to work on," Frost said.

Burkholder said Frost's emergence can help give UA a different look.

"Christina is a tremendous player," Burkholder said. "She is a very smart attacker, and she brings a defensive element to our team. She can also open up our passing game, which will help free up the court for Lisa (Rutledge) and Jill."

Burkholder earned her third tournament Most Valuable Player award of the season and Sebbas, Rutledge and Talbot were named to the all-tournament team.

The Wildcats (20-4, 14-4 Pacific 10 Conference) finished the regular season with 20 wins for the sixth consecutive year.

However, UA head coach David Rubio said he doesn't think his team's performance this past weekend will be enough to earn the Cats a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Rubio said USC, Wisconsin and Arizona are all fighting for the last No. 1 seed.

Rubio said that in his eyes, USC has a slight edge over the Wildcats because the Trojans split their season series with the Cardinal while UA was unable to muster a victory.

"Every time I try to predict the brackets, I am always wrong," Rubio said. "I think that USC is in a better position then we are, but then again, I am never right when it comes to these things."

However, Burkholder said she believes that Arizona is deserving of a top seed in this year's postseason tournament

"Personally, I think we deserve it," Burkholder said, "Dave thinks USC is in the better position, but I think we will get it. If we don't, then that's life. Anywhere we go, we will play hard and bring our game. I do hope, though, (that the tournament) is in Tucson."

The Wildcats will find out their seed in the 2001 NCAA Tournament today at 1 p.m.