Just one of three teams visiting for Arizona volleyball's second home tournament in as many weeks is ranked ÷ but that doesn't mean the Wildcats can overlook the rest of the field.

The No. 14 Wildcats (4-3) take on New Mexico State (4-2) today at 10 a.m., No. 11 UC Santa Barbara (2-2) at 7:30 p.m. and American University (2-4) on Saturday at noon in the Four Points University Plaza Arizona Invitational. [Read article]

If today is like the last week or so, there's probably a half-page ad somewhere in this sports section reminding you just how critical it is that you join the ranks of Zona Zoo before today's cutoff for entry into the special basketball ticket lottery.

If you're like me, though, you've been reading these ads and putting it off until the last minute, partly because procrastination is what you do best and partly because of a vague, nagging resentment having to do with the idea of paying another $35 out of your tuition hike-emptied wallet. [Read article]

Heading into Sunday's road contest at Northern Arizona, the Arizona soccer team doesn't have a whole lot it wants to change, save for one minor detail: the team is ready to get back into the win column.

"We felt like we played well enough," head coach Dan Tobias said about the Wildcats' (1-3) pair of losses last week to Arkansas and host Missouri at the Nike Tiger Invitational. "But its not how many chances we get, its about how many we actually convert." [Read article]

Men's golf opens season in Albuquerque

UA men's golf will tee-off its season this weekend at the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate golf competition in Albuquerque, N.M.

The 49-year old tourney is the second oldest collegiate golf competition in the nation. Among the 20 teams scheduled to participate in the two-day, 36 hole set this year are Arizona State, Stanford, Texas A&M, North Carolina State and Hawaii. [Read article]

First conference game offers shot at redemption

With the Oregon Ducks coming to town tomorrow, and another nationally televised game, the Arizona Wildcats have another opportunity to prove that last week's result was just a fluke.

After the Wildcats got bashed 59-13 at the hands of Louisiana State, the Arizona (1-1) coaching staff has spent the last week making sure its players stay focused, even after its worse loss in over a decade. [Read article]

If this were last year, the Wildcat offense would be licking its chops at the possibility of going against an Oregon defense that finished last in the Pacific 10 Conference, giving up 409.3 yards per game.

But with the Ducks retooling their defensive unit in the offseason, Oregon's defense looks to be a much-improved squad compared to a year ago.

Six starters return from what was an inexperienced group last year, including three of the four defensive backs who gave up 35 touchdown passes a year ago as a unit. [Read article]

Head coach John Mackovic said the first Pacific 10 Conference game "either puts you in first place or last place."

But tomorrow's game holds so much more significance than getting an early lead in the standings.

The way the Wildcats play will go a long way in determining how the season plays out and how the fans react to the team.

Does a loss against the Ducks mean the season is over in only the second week of September? [Read article]

Oregon St.*

Tomorrow vs. New Mexico St., 4:30 p.m.

ASU (16)

Tomorrow vs. Utah State, 7 p.m.

California

Last night, lost to Utah 31-24

WashingtonSt.*

Tomorrow at No. 16 Colorado, 11:30 p.m.

USC (4)
[Read article]