KEVIN KLAUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat The Arizona men's club volleyball team practices blocking drills earlier this week at the Student Recreation Center. The team, led by sophomore outside-hitter Kevin Logan, is attempting to win its fifth national championship in six years.

In the past five years, one team at the UA has enjoyed more success than any other.

The UA men's club volleyball team has been the most dominant team in Tucson for the last half-decade, winning four of the last five National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association championships.

The Wildcats are now gearing up for a run at a fifth national title as they head to Charlotte, N.C., this weekend to face off against the top collegiate volleyball squads from around the nation.

UA heads into the tournament ranked third in the most recent national poll, and should secure a top seed.

And while the team's past success would suggest this as the norm, the road to the top in the 2003-04 has not been easy. Seven newcomers joined six returning players in the UA rotation this season.

This lack of experience may have been cause for concern for other programs, but not for UA, as the Wildcats' new members filled the gaps left by graduating players nicely.

"Last year's team had more experience, and we lost a lot of good guys to graduation," sophomore and second-year outside hitter Kevin Logan said. "This year we have a lot younger team, a little bit less experience, but the same amount of talent."

While UA has remained among the top NIRSA teams, the addition of so many new faces has brought on some growing pains.

"With so many newer guys, it took a lot longer to come together as a team and really play as team," Logan said.

But the team has improved steadily throughout the season and is peaking in time for the national tournament, Logan and junior opposite Britt Burridge said.

The influx of youth also gave Arizona a unique opportunity to prepare for future seasons while remaining on top in the current one.

"Since so many new guys are playing and becoming a part of the program, it really gives us a chance to broaden the program and strengthen for the future," Logan said.

But young or old, Logan said every Wildcat has the same goal.

"Every year we want to play our way into a No. 1 seed, win all our tournaments, and win another national championship," Logan said.

Fifth-year middle hitter Casey Milvin said playing volleyball may even have helped some of the younger players adjust to college life in the classroom.

"Playing volleyball really helps in class. You have to keep your grades up in order to play, and if anything, the time (spent playing volleyball) makes you budget your study time," Milvin said.

The Wildcats' path to another national title this weekend will not be without its obstacles, as three top-five squads will be looking to dethrone the reigning champs.