Pac-10 softball teams dominate national polls once again

There are other conferences in college softball besides the Pac-10. They just don't matter.

The World Series may be in Oklahoma City, but the road to the national championship will run through the Pacific 10 Conference. In 20 of the 22 years there has been an NCAA title, at least one Pac-10 team has been in the championship game.

For example, defending national champion UCLA started the season No. 1 but has gone 2-5 in league play. The Bruins are second-to-last in the conference but still sit in the top five in the country. A couple weeks ago, the Bruins were last in the Pac-10 and ranked No. 2 in the country. [Read article]

Name: Rachel Varner

Year: Sophomore

Event: Discus

From: Bakersfield, Calif.

After a demanding weekend of competitions in California, UA sophomore thrower Rachel Varner is now second in the country and third in UA history. She set, surpassed and reset a series of personal-best performances. At a throwing competition hosted by Cal State Los Angeles, Varner won the discus with a throw of 179 feet, 6 inches ÷ exceeding her previous best by more than three feet. At a Long Beach State competition, she exceeded that personal best with a mark of 190 feet, defeating last year's NCAA champion, Deshaya Williams. [Read article]

The Arizona women's golf team set out yesterday at Saticoy Country Club in search of its first Pac-10 Championship since 2002.

But after the final 18 holes, the Wildcats found themselves right where they started: third place.

The Wildcats stood in seventh after the first round of the 2004 Pacific-10 Conference Championships in Sorris, Calif., but jumped to third after the second round. Arizona finished 21 strokes behind the first-place Bruins and three strokes behind California. [Read article]

One thing the Arizona men's tennis team isn't lacking going into today's Pac-10 Championships is confidence.

After one of the most successful seasons in recent memory, the No. 24 Wildcats (14-8, 3-4 Pacific 10 Conference) have every reason to be confident.

"The team is exploding with confidence," said assistant coach Tad Berkowitz. "They feel that we had a good finish to the regular season. This (tournament) came at the right time for us." [Read article]

The Arizona women's tennis team enters the Pac-10 Championships today in Ojai, Calif., after finishing tied for sixth in the conference.

The Wildcats (6-12, 2-6 Pacific 10 Conference) send four singles players and two doubles teams to the main draw, including No.14 Dianne Hollands, who has achieved the highest ranking of her career. Junior Maja Mlakar, senior Debbie Larocque and junior Kelly Perry will also make the trip. [Read article]