Women's basketball hopes to make NCAA tournament run for first time in 3 years

To say this team is hungry would be a gross understatement.

Though the first game is over a month away, the Arizona women's basketball team is itching to get back on the court. Practice starts in just over two weeks.

Looking to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 1999-2000 season öö something their male counterparts have no trouble doing öö this team is looking to create its own identity. [Read article]

After a first-place finish in the NCAA Preview, the women's golf team hit the links for the first time and posted a second-place finish at the Mason Rudolph Championships yesterday.

The Wildcats closed the event nine strokes behind host and champion Vanderbilt, which shot 878 (+14). UA shot a final-round 304 yesterday.

"I'm disappointed with the way we finished the tournament," head coach Greg Allen said. "But overall I am pleased with the way our team has been playing." [Read article]

Sport: Volleyball
Position: Outside hitter
Year: Senior
Hometown: Vista, Calif. (near San Diego)
Why she won the award: Rutledge has been the model of consistency for the Wildcats this season. Last weekend, she was second on the team with 28 kills, including 16 against No. 11 UCLA. Where she shines, though, is in the things that don't show up in the box scores, like leadership and attitude on the floor. Rutledge's effort last weekend helped Arizona split its matches against UCLA and No. 1 USC. [Read article]

Arizona (2-1)
Last week: Lost to Wisconsin 31-10
This week: North Texas (1-3)

The team was rocked with news this week that All-Pac-10 cornerback Michael Jolivette will be lost for at least the majority of the season with a sprained MCL and damage to both his ACL and PCL. Jolivette was vital to the team's double-eagle flex defensive scheme, which relied on lots of man-to-man in the secondary to free up linebackers for blitzing and run-stopping. In his absence, redshirt freshman Darrell Brooks will move over to the No. 1 corner spot and nickel back David Hinton will move into the No. 2 role. [Read article]