DAVE HARDEN/Arizona Daily Wildcat The UA volleyball team says it isn't thinking ahead to a possible rematch with Southern California, and it isn't thinking about next season. Its focus is squarely on defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in College Station, Texas on Friday.

Tomorrow, the Wildcat volleyball team will head for College Station, Texas for its first round NCAA Tournament matchup with Wisconsin.

But before the quest for a national championship begins, the Wildcat had a chance to sit down with the team in McKale Center and discuss a number of issues - everything from the tourney to being tall.

WILDCAT: In all honesty - the coach isn't here - who's already thinking about playing Southern California in the Sweet 16?

SOPHOMORE OUTSIDE HITTER JENNIFER ABERNATHY: Nobody.

WILDCAT: Honestly?

ABERNATHY: No, we've got to take it one game at a time. I think we all know that in order for us to get, you know, to the Final Four, we do need to think of just the first team that we play.

SOPHOMORE OUTSIDE HITTER KIM GLASS: To be honest, I've thought about it, because I know we can do what our team did two years ago, and I'm optimistic about us going to the Sweet 16. That's the only reason why. But I'm not looking - I mean, you can't overlook Wisconsin.

ABERNATHY: Anything can happen on any given day in volleyball. Anybody can beat anybody.

WILDCAT: There's only one senior on this team, and that would be Kelly. As far as the starters go, there's two freshman, three sophomores and one junior.

JUNIOR MIDDLE BLOCKER JOLENE KILLOUGH: Two juniors.

WILDCAT: Right, the libero.

WILDCAT: With that in mind, how tempting is it to think about next year - the possibilities of next year?

ABERNATHY: I'm sick of it. It's pretty frustrating to hear people talk about "next year, next year," because it's not next year. It's right now.

WILDCAT: If you guys win the tournament or make it to the Final Four, how frustrating is it that only Kelly's going to be able to go out to the bar and celebrate?

NCAA Tourney - First round Arizona vs. Wisconson Nicholls State vs. Texas A&M When: Friday 4 p.m. Where: G. Rollie White Coliseum Host: Texas A&M Winners play Saturday at 7 p.m. 2003 Volleyball Tourney Bracket

(laughter)

GLASS: It's okay; we don't party like that.

(laughter)

WILDCAT: (To Cassidy): Is there ever a point in the day when you're not chewing gum?

JUNIOR DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST CASSIDY CRUM: (Laughs while chewing gum) No.

WILDCAT: Not even when you're sleeping?

CRUM: No, I just always do it during the games because, I don't know, I've just always been doing it. It's kind of like my nail polish.

WILDCAT: Like a safety net?

CRUM: Yeah. I don't practice without it.

WILDCAT: Now, I noticed last Sunday that Kim has a tongue ring. How long have you had that?

GLASS: Since September...

ABERNATHY: September 10th.

GLASS: I got it on (Jennifer's) birthday.

WILDCAT: Why did you get it?

GLASS: Because I've always wanted to get my tongue pierced. One day I had a bad practice, so I got my tongue pierced.

(laughter)

WILDCAT: Now Stephanie, you had a 4.1 grade point average in high school?

FRESHMAN SETTER STEPHANIE BUTKUS: Mm-hmm.

WILDCAT: Are you gonna get straight 'A's this semester?

BUTKUS: (Laughs) No.

WILDCAT: Why not?

BUTKUS: Classes are a lot harder.

ABERNATHY: (Sarcastically) It's a lot of stress balancing sports and school, okay?

WILDCAT: But there's not going to be any excuses next semester, right?

BUTKUS: (Laughs) Oh yeah.

WILDCAT: Now Kelly, from being in the Lohse Room on Sunday (for the tournament bracket announcement), it looked like you and Stephanie seemed to be good friends. Has there been a rivalry there since you've both been competing for the same position?

SENIOR SETTER KELLY HALFAKER: Well, my freshman year in New Mexico, there was a senior that I beat out, and she tried to make my life miserable.

WILDCAT: So you try not to do the same to Stephanie?

HALFAKER: Yeah. I do my best to try not to make other people feel that way.

EVERYONE: Awwww!

WILDCAT: Now, Kristina, looking at your profile, you played volleyball, you did track and field, high jump, badminton in high school, all that stuff.

(Laughter)

GLASS: Were you on the chess team, too, dog?

(Laughter)

WILDCAT: Did you ever play basketball? I mean, you're 6-foot-2.

FRESHMAN MIDDLE BLOCKER KRISTINA BAUM: No.

MULTIPLE PLAYERS: You're 6'2''?

WILDCATS: Your profile says you're 6'2''.

BAUM: I hate when people ask me that!

ABERNATHY: (Sarcastically) It's such a waste of height!

BAUM: I played (basketball) in junior high. But I love volleyball.

WILDCAT: Jennifer, your sister's in the tournament, too, right? With Cal?

ABERNATHY: Yes.

WILDCAT: Have you two talked about possibly playing each other in the tournament down the road?

ABERNATHY: No. When me and my sister talk, we don't ever talk about volleyball, unless it's just like, 'Did you win tonight? Okay!' But we don't really talk about volleyball. We try to stay away.

WILDCAT: Now, most of you are above or around six feet tall. Does that make it tough to meet guys and go out on dates with guys shorter than you?

(Laughter)

GLASS: The only thing that makes it tough is our high standards.

(Hysterical laughter)

WILDCAT: But have any of you had an awkward experience, like at a dance, where you've had to dance with a guy shorter than you?

KILLOUGH: I have.

(Laughter)

KILLOUGH: I'm 6'5'' and my boyfriend's 5'8''.

GLASS: And how long have you guys been together?

KILLOUGH: Almost two years.

EVERYONE: Awwww!

WILDCAT: Was that awkward at first?

KILLOUGH: We were friends first so we didn't really mind the height difference.

WILDCAT: Now Meghan, you had the most kills of anyone who didn't start this year. How are you going to find a way to push yourself into the starting lineup with Kim and Jennifer around?

FRESHMAN OUTSIDE HITTER MEGHAN CUMPSTON: I just try and play hard and effective. It's not like, 'Well, you know, I'm gonna take over Kim Glass' position.'" It's not like I really think about that in a game, you know. I just think about getting better and the team we're playing against. That's all I really think about.

WILDCAT: Bre, you're the only person from Tucson, or from Arizona, for that matter.

SOPHOMORE MIDDLE BLOCKER BRE LADD: (Points to Cassidy)

WILDCAT: Oh, that's right, you transferred from Duke. Now, was that really your decision or was that your family's decision?

CRUM: (Laughs) It was mine.

WILDCAT: (To Bre) You were national player of the year (senior high school year). Why didn't you take the chance to get out of Tucson while you could?

LADD: Well, for one, I don't think it's that bad here.

WILDCAT: Why did you decide to stay here? Because you just wanted to stay close to home or because you just really liked Arizona's volleyball program?

LADD: A combination of both. It was kind of convenient that they had the kind of place where I fit in here.

WILDCAT: Kelli: For all our copy editors at the Wildcat who keep giving the sports desk crap about, "Is 'libero' a real word?" - define once and for all what a "libero" is.

JUNIOR LIBERO KELLI MULVANY: (Laughs) The libero doesn't count as a sub. I can't serve and I can't step behind the 10-foot line. I can enter the game at any time. (To the players) That's all the rules, right?

LADD: Can't get caught with the jersey.

MULVANY: (Laughs) Oh yeah, I can't get caught wearing the same colored jersey.

WILDCAT: (To everyone) Anything you'd like to say to Wisconsin? Guarantee a victory? Anyone?

(Brief pause)

ABERNATHY: (Whispering) We're comin' to get ya.

- James Kelley contributed to this report.