JON HELGASON/Arizona Daily Wildcat Angie Ayers spikes on Illissa Larimore Saturday during a scrimmage game. The women's volleyball team opens its season Friday in Louisville, Kentucky.

With the season less than a week away the UA women's volleyball team took the floor for the first time Saturday in an intra-squad scrimmage that saw a combination of young talent and strong veteran play.

Over 500 fans came out to support the Wildcats to see if this year's team has what it takes to repeat its 2001 Final Four appearance, which was the first in program history.

However, a lot has changed since its Final Four run last December and the fans got first glimpse at the "new look" Wildcats.

Despite losing perennial All-Americans Jill Talbot and Dana Burkholder, head coach David Rubio, quickly reloaded as Arizona has the top incoming recruiting class in the nation.

Rubio made news in the volleyball world by recruiting three of the top incoming freshman in middle blocker Bre Ladd and outside hitters Kim Glass and Jennifer Abernathy.

With the combination of new talent and returning seniors, such as middle blocker Stefani Saragosa, outside hitters Lisa Rutledge and Shannon Torregrosa, UA has the possibility to return to the Final Four in the eyes of Rubio.

"The players on this team are the most talented set of players that I have coached," Rubio said. "They are by far the most athletic team that I have coached."

However Rubio said he realizes that the team is going to go through its share of ups and downs until the chemistry is gained among one another.

That is exactly what occurred during the scrimmage.

The Blue team, coached by Rubio, which consisted of the likely starting rotation, defeated the White team coached by associate head coach Charita Johnson 25-30, 30-25, 31-29, 32-30.

Torregrosa led the way for the Blue team as she tallied a match-high 25 kills.

Rutledge also shined with the match's lone double-double. She finished with 13 kills and 11 digs to go along with a .440 hitting percentage.

"In my mind, Shannon and Lisa were a step above everyone else," Rubio said. "They just played great."

The veterans played up to par but as expected the young freshmen had their ups and downs during the match.

On the outside, Abernathy and Glass each had their moments, which showed the potential that they bring to the court.

Abernathy finished the match one kill short of a double-double with nine kills and 10 digs.

Glass, who was equally impressive, finished with 11 kills, seven digs and a match high nine total blocks.

However, both failed to tally a hitting percentage above .150.

"I think that (Kim) Glass played really well," Rubio said. "Both players may have not been as consistent as they usually are, but that is expected. Both players are a ways of way from reaching their potential, but they are loaded with talent."

In the middle, Ladd finished with seven kills and six total blocks.

Another player who made her UA debut was senior setter Laurie Gardner, who transferred from Indiana, where she was a three-year starter.

Gardner, who beat out sophomore Rochelle Ruen to earn starting honors, dished out a match high 43 kills along with nine digs, four kills and three aces.

"Laurie is a fifth year senior, but she has come into a new program and she has handled it well," Rubio said. "I can not be more pleased with what she has brought to our team. She is the prefect replacement for Dana(Burkholder)."

Gardner said the transition from Indiana to Arizona has been easy and she feels she is beginning to gel with her fellow teammates.

"Every day I become more comfortable, Gardner said. "I just need to get more reps. Overall it has gotten progressively better every time I step onto the court."

The match was competitive from the beginning, but the fans support brought out a lot of joy in the Arizona team.

"The crowd was amazing," Saragosa said. "It was a competitive match for them to see and it just shows that we have loyal fans. It was a lot of fun to be out there in an atmosphere where we could show out appreciation for their support."

The Wildcats will see its first real action as they travel to Louisville to begin the 2002 season against UT-Arlington in the Louisville Invitational.