Spring break will be no break at all for the UA softball team, which starts with a three-game set this weekend at home against dangerous Missouri and then travels to Fullerton, Calif., for the loaded Kia Klassic.

Today, the No. 2 Wildcats (25-0) host Mizzou (10-12) for the first of a three-game series. Today's game starts at 3 p.m., tomorrow's at 1 p.m. and Sunday's at noon.

The Tigers come to town down Interstate 10 having earned a split with No. 20 Arizona State (24-10) Wednesday in Tempe. There, they won the first game of a twin bill 8-0 before losing to the Sun Devils 9-1 in the nightcap.

UA acting head coach Larry Ray agreed that the Tigers are better than their record, noting that Mizzou head coach Ty Singleton, the reigning Big XII Coach of the Year, doesn't shy away from tough games.

"He's always been the type to play the best kind of competition, and it's no different this year," Ray said.

After losing 10 straight games earlier in the season, Mizzou comes to Hillenbrand Stadium hot, having won six in a row before its loss to ASU. The Tigers' losses have come to tough teams: two each to No. 11 Stanford and No. 17 Pacific and one each to No. 10 Louisiana-Lafayette, No. 18 South Florida and No. 21 Florida.

Arizona beat the Cardinal twice, 2-1 and 7-5, and beat the Bulls 2-1. Mizzou lost to Stanford 2-1 and 5-2 in the Cardinal's tourney and lost to the Bulls 3-0 in the Gators' tournament.

On Wednesday, the Wildcats begin the Kia Klassic, a tournament likely to mount the toughest challenge so far to the Wildcats' perfect season.

Sophomore pitcher Alicia Hollowell (15-0) said she is looking forward to the Klassic more than the matchup with the Tigers.

"I think more the Kia Klassic than Missouri, just because there are more ranked teams there. It will be challenging for us," she said.

In the 16-team competition, there are nine teams, including the UA, that are ranked in the top 25: No. 5 Florida State (21-3), No. 6 Oklahoma (18-5-1), the Ragin' Cajuns, No. 8 Washington (13-5), No. 15 Fresno State (13-5), No. 17 Pacific (15-3), No. 19 Nebraska (23-9) and the Sun Devils. Of the remaining teams, Illinois (14-5-1), Texas A&M (12-10) and host Cal State Fullerton (6-14) received votes in the rankings.

"I think ever since I've been in softball, that tournament has been the best tournament in the country as far as quality of teams," Ray said. "There's really no easy games; you don't get a breather there. When you get into single elimination, you may play the fourth team in one pool; but they may be a very good team also, so you definitely have to be at your best in that tournament."

The other teams participating are UNLV (12-13), Princeton (3-3), DePaul (2-8) and the USA Olympic team (17-0 on its tour), though Team USA will not play the UA in the Klassic.

The teams are divided into four four-team pools, though Team USA will only play in pool play. USA is led by UA head coach Mike Candrea and features a slew of former Wildcats. Arizona and Team USA meet in their next game after the Klassic.

Playing in Bracket D, the UA will first face the Fighting Illini on March 17 at 6 p.m. From there, each game will likely be harder than the one before.

The Wildcats meet the Bulldogs March 18 at noon, followed by the Sooners at 10 a.m. March 19.

Depending on how the Wildcats fare in bracket play, the championship bracket begins March 19, and the consolation bracket begins play March 20.