Rugby

The University of Arizona takes its bruiser image on the road this weekend, waging war with two of sunny California's toughest opponents.

The UA ruggers will take on St. Mary's in Moraga and Stanford in match-ups marking the opening of the season for both California schools.

The Wildcats boast a 2-0 record after hard-hitting victories over Colorado State and last year's Final Four qualifier Wyoming.

"That was a tough weekend, and this will be another hard set of matches for us," head coach Dave Sitton said.

Arizona has a history with both St. Mary's and Stanford. Arizona, 1-2 all-time versus St. Mary's, hasn't faced the Gaels since the two schools met in the Pacific Coast Conference playoffs in 1987.

Stanford leads the all-time series against the Arizona three games to two. For the Cardinal a two-year stint in Division II will come to an end in the Arizona match, a stint that included a division title last season. Stanford will return to D1 competition this year.

"They have tremendous tradition here (Stanford)," Sitton said. "The facilities built on their campus for rugby are beyond belief."

The Wildcats will be without two of their top players, Mark Gallo and Tom Dolan for this weekend's games. Sophomore fly half Gallo will remain out of the lineup due to thumb ligament surgery last month. He is expected to return to action when the season resumes in January. As for senior flanker Dolan, the news remains more optimistic.

An All-American last season, Dolan will be in San Diego this weekend participating in workouts for the United States National Seven-A-Side team. Dolan's selection would make him the second Wildcat to have the honor of playing on this internationally touring squad. Former Wildcat Al Lakomskis was the other when he participated on the World Cup qualifying team that competed in Chile and Uruguay.

Other notes ·

The annual Arizona Domino's Invitational tournament, scheduled for this November, has been postponed until the springtime. In its place the ruggers will participate in popular Warren Lee Sevens tournament. The December 21 tournament will include local club teams and be held at Old Pueblo. The spring season will kick off January 18 in Tucson. The Wildcats will open against another 2002 Final Four squad, the University of Utah.

Women's volleyball

The campus of the University of Arizona will receive a heavy dose of volleyball this weekend when the women's club volleyball team hosts its fall tournament.

Volleyball will take center stage in three of the campus' satellite facilities - the Student Recreation Center, Bear Down Gym and Gittings Gym. The tournament will feature nine teams from five schools.

Among those teams are Colorado State A and B, Colorado Boulder A and B, San Diego State A and B, and Loyola Marymount. Arizona will have both its A and B squads competing this weekend as well.

Due to the overwhelming number of girls vying to compete on the club team, two squads are made available. Each team is comprised of 15 players. This season 60 girls attempted to fill the 30 available positions. This year's squad features players from Florida, Virginia and Washington. An estimated 50 percent of the players are from Arizona.

For a majority of these women, volleyball is life. Most have been playing all their life. Volleyball becomes a daily routine and a seven-day a week dedication.

"Once it gets in your blood it stays in your blood," said senior physiology major Jo Lyn Tatum.

Unlike the varsity women's volleyball squad, the club team depends mostly on its own funding to provide for expenses. The recently passed $3 referendum tuition fee pays for its entry fee into the national tournament, but leaves the remainder up to the women to provide.

This is done through car washes, dues, selling programs and a Texas T-bone dinner sponsored by the team. For $15 the team will serve a steak dinner, complete with salad and drink from 12-3 p.m. on Nov. 23.

Funding woes are felt throughout the club sports community. To ease the cost of travel, the Arizona club team will house all of the visiting school's players this weekend. Some houses will sleep up to 12 to 15 girls.

Games will be held throughout the day on Saturday. Arizona will be playing in the morning at 9, 10, and 11 a.m. The afternoon will feature matches at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30. The Cats will finish their day with evening games at 5 and 6 o'clock.