JON HELGASON/Arizona Daily Wildcat UA outside hitter Shannon Torregrosa attempts a kill during the team's intrasquad scrimmage last week.

It has been eight months since the UA women's volleyball team's dream of winning its first ever national championship was shattered.

But with five returning seniors and the nation's top recruiting class, the No. 6 Wildcats are ready to begin their road back.

It will all begin today against the University of Texas-Arlington in the Louisville Labor Day Invitational.

UA opponents will consist of Texas-Arlington and American University, and Louisville, tomorrow. All three teams qualified for last year's NCAA Tournament.

In his 11 seasons as the UA head coach, David Rubio has a 7-3 record in season openers. Rubio enters the weekend needing only three more victories to earn his 200th victory at UA.

The Wildcats come into the tournament as the heavy favorites, but Rubio said he realizes that no opponent can be taken lightly.

"We are a very talented team but I know that we are going to struggle early in the season," Rubio said. "We have a lot of young new players and I know that we aren't going to have any easy matches this season."

UT-Arlington returns all six starters and nine letter winners from last year's NCAA first round team.

American enters the weekend as the defending Patriot League champions as they return 10 letter winners from their 2001 NCAA first round team.

Louisville, the host school for the tournament is led by senior outside hitter Sonja Percan, who recorded a team high 611 kills last season.

UA's offense will counter with two seniors of its own in outside hitters Shannon Torregrosa and Lisa Rutledge. UA's two senior hitters combined for over 700 kills last season.

The Wildcats want to do more than just win in Louisville; they want to gain chemistry and confidence on the court with each other because the team ÷ other than the five seniors ÷ is relatively young.

Senior setter Laurie Gardner takes over for perennial All-American setter Dana Burkholder as UA's starting setter.

Gardner said she realizes that she is taking over for a great player, but she doesn't feel like there is any pressure on her self to be as good as Burkholder.

"I am a different player and there is no pressure on me to be like Dana," Gardner said. "I am just looking to be the best that I can be."

Also making their debut this weekend are freshmen standouts Bre Ladd, Jennifer Abernathy, Kim Glass and Meghan Cumpston.

Ladd, the nation's top incoming freshman, will need to step up her play because senior middle blocker Stefani Saragosa will only be allowed to play limited minutes due to a strain in her pectoral muscle.

Ladd, a Tucson native, said that it has been her dream since she started playing volleyball to suit up for the Wildcats.

"In my heart I have always wanted to be a Wildcat," Ladd said. "I just can't wait to step onto the court in my uniform and help the team. My goal is to do anything I can to help our team come away with a victory."