CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Arizona freshman Kristina Baum (23) hits a return during the Wildcats 3-1 loss to Stanford at McKale Center earlier this month.

Fifth-year senior setter Kelly Griffin-Halfaker transferred to Arizona because it is a "much better opportunity" ÷ and she has parlayed that opportunity into another start tonight against Oregon.

Tonight at 7 in McKale Center, Arizona (7-10, 1-6 Pacific 10 Conference) plays Oregon (3-13, 0-7) in Griffin-Halfaker's first game at home as the starting setter. Griffin-Halfaker gets the nod after recording a match-high 43 assists in the Wildcats' 3-1 upset over UCLA last weekend.

Griffin-Halfaker, the only senior on the UA roster, has finally begun to see some playing time after suffering a knee injury in preseason practices. She sat out the entire 2002 season while at New Mexico after tearing her ACL.

"At this point, she is doing a better job setting," said head coach Dave Rubio. "Also, I think the team responds more to her leadership skills."

Arizona's upset over the Bruins last weekend ended the Wildcats' five-match losing streak. Griffin-Halfaker, who plays volleyball's equivalent to the quarterback position, said the team has a good mentality going into this weekend's matches, and is confident.

"I think it's pretty good. It feels good ÷ the girls seem positive," Griffin-Halfaker said. "We watched tape from UCLA, and it was uplifting because we looked good and played as a team. We all realized now that that's how we should play every match, so I think it should be good. I feel good about the weekend."

Griffin-Halfaker downplayed the difficulty in stepping in on the road against the No. 8 team in the country, and dished 43 assists in her first extended action since the Lobos lost to Utah in Nov. 2001 during the Mountain West Tournament.

"That was the first time I wasn't nervous and I didn't feel scared or anything," Griffin-Halfaker said. "And if I was nervous, it worked for me. I let my adrenaline kind of take over. It felt good."

Griffin-Halfaker led the Lobos in hitting percentage (.265), assists (774) and digs (220). She also led the MWC in triple doubles, kills, assists and digs.

"I think that obviously she's comfortable in the system," Rubio said. "I don't have any reservations about starting her."

Oregon looks to be a chance for the Wildcats to tally another win after playing such a tough schedule. The Ducks come to the desert with an eight-match losing streak, including losing 12 of their last 13, beating only 6-13 Villanova in that stretch.

"We're not in a position to take anyone lightly," Rubio said. "We need to just focus on what we need ÷ that is, to take it one contact at a time."

The Ducks return three starters from a team that went 11-21 last season and are led by Kelly Russell, who tops the team in kills, hitting percentage and kills per game.