JON HELGASON/Arizona Daily Wildcat New Wildcat middle blocker Shannon Torregrosa (left) and freshman Bre Ladd (right) go up for a block against Stanford in McKale Center.

Shannon Torregrosa's four years as a member of the Wildcat volleyball team have resembled something of a roller coaster ride.

She was a key member of last year's run to the Final Four and was named the AVCA National and Pacific 10 Conference Player of the Week last year after two dominating matches against UCLA and Southern California. However, she was also suspended for conduct detrimental to the team.

This season, the ups and downs have continued.

Head coach Dave Rubio slated Torregrosa as one of Arizona's starting outside hitters, a position at which she excelled during her junior campaign.

However, that all changed when middle blocker Stefani Saragosa unexpectedly quit the team due to injury.

With Saragosa the only experienced middle blocker on the roster, Rubio decided to move Torregrosa to the middle, a position that she played briefly during her freshman season.

"I'm pleased with Shannon when she brings a good attitude to the court for practice and games," Rubio said. "She is really something special. She is a player that can make a difference for us and I'm sure she will continue to contribute as the season goes on."

Fortunately for the team, the move showed signs that Torregrosa has matured greatly since her suspension last season.

Due to the switch, Torregrosa had to come to the realization that she was not going to be as involved in the Arizona attack, but that did not concern one of Arizona's three seniors.

"Dave thought the switch would help the team," Torregrosa said. " I want to do whatever it takes to help the team win."

Last season, Torregrosa was used to recording double digits in kills, but with the emergence of freshman standout Kim Glass, in addition to the new role, Torregrosa has seen her role in the offense decrease. But Torregrosa took it all in stride, and waited to see how things played out.

With Rubio continuing to try to find a lineup that would help the Wildcats elevate their level of play to that of last year's Final Four team, Torregrosa was moved back to the outside ÷ a change Torregrosa welcomed, and took advantage of.

With Glass and senior Lisa Rutledge taking most of the swings, Torregrosa still contributed 18 kills over the weekend against the Oregon schools.

"I am more comfortable playing on the outside," Torregrosa said. "The goal now is to try to get the middles more involved in order to take the pressure off our outside hitters."

With Torregrosa returning to the outside, redshirt freshman Angie Ayers has stepped in and become a dominant force defensively, but she has been unable to find her game offensively.

Rubio said it is imperative for the middle blockers to continue to become more involved in the offense in order to open up the court for Arizona's outside threats.

Once freshman Bre Ladd and Ayers are consistently involved, the combination of Glass, Torregrosa and Rutledge on the outside gives Arizona the potential for one of the most potent offenses in the Pac-10.