The Pacific 10 Conference is considered to be the strongest volleyball conference in the country, but this year that has been more apparent then ever.

In years past, Southern California, Stanford, UCLA, and Arizona have been among the nation's best, with the other six teams in the Pac-10 viewed as average at best.

However, those four teams are not sitting alone atop the conference anymore. In the recent American Volleyball Coaches Association rankings, seven teams from the Pac-10 were ranked in the Top 25 and California just missed becoming the eighth conference team with a No. 31 ranking.

USC's ride atop the collegiate polls is over, as it has dropped to No. 2 after its loss to No. 4 Stanford last weekend.

Arizona dropped two places to No. 16 with Washington State and UCLA just behind with rankings of 17th and 19th, respectively. No. 21 Washington joins the rankings for the first time this season with its sweep of UA and No. 23 Arizona State last weekend.

USC leads the conference by one match over Stanford, and Arizona is a mere three matches behind the Cardinal.

Arizona was picked to finish third in the Pac-10 in the preseason coaches' poll, but it will have no margin for error as Washington is only one back of it with six conference matches remaining.

"This is the deepest conference," Rubio said. "There is no question that in the 11 years that I have been here that this is the strongest the conference has been. On any given night, any team can beat another team. Every conference match is a tough, grueling match and I feel fortunate to be where we are."

The Arizona offensive attack began the year relying on freshman Kim Glass and senior Lisa Rutledge.

Glass and Rutledge have been up to the challenge, but Rubio said the Wildcats won't become the team that they are capable of becoming until freshman middle blocker Bre Ladd and senior Shannon Torregrosa become more involved in the offense. Half of the equation has worked out, as Ladd's effectiveness has grown exponentially in recent games.

Torregrosa has been playing well, but she has not been given the offensive opportunities that Glass, Rutledge and Ladd have had.

In UA's last match with WSU, Glass had 70 swings and Rutledge and Ladd each had over 30, but Torregrosa only had 14.

Rubio said that it is imperative that Torregrosa become more involved in the offense in order to give the team a true balanced attack.

"Getting Shannon involved has a lot to do with the flow of the game," Rubio said. "We have to let the match unfold and go from there. But we have to find a way to get her and our other middle blockers more involved."

Besides Rubio, Ladd said that Torregrosa's presence on the court intimidates opponents.

"Shannon is here for us," Ladd said. "She brings a certain attitude to the court and we have to have that. Her presence keeps teams honest and that opens up the court for everyone.

Glass may be a freshman, but she has become the most popular UA player to the young Arizona fans so far this season. After Arizona's come-from-behind victory over WSU on Saturday, 15 children from Picacho Middle School waited nearly an hour after the match just to have an opportunity to take a picture with Glass.

After Glass finished up with her media obligations, she walked outside of the media room and was bombarded by screaming children asking for her autograph and picture.

The 15 youngsters were given an opportunity to travel from Picacho to see the match as a reward for their first-place finish.

"They have been looking forward to this for a long time," head coach and chaperone Karen Wuestenfeld said. "They all dream of one day playing volleyball at Arizona. She has definitely made their year by spending some time with them."

After competing in a five-game match, Glass could have easily signed a few autographs and gone home, but she stayed until every kid received an autograph and photo.

"I love kids," Glass said. "When I was a young player, I tried to get an autograph from a player on the U.S. National Team and I was brushed off. I told myself that I would never do that. These fans support us and I love them all."