Seniors lead volleyball to win over WSU


By Lindsey Frazier
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Monday, October 31, 2005

Senior Glass becomes UA's career kills leader

A trio of Arizona volleyball seniors rewrote the record books Friday night, as the No. 9 Wildcats knocked off Washington State in McKale Center, 30-18, 31-33, 30-19, 30-15.

Senior outside hitter Kim Glass became Arizona's all-time kills leader when she recorded her 1,860th kill in the second game, passing Barb Bell.

Senior middle blocker Bre Ladd recorded her 1,000th kill later in the second game, and senior outside hitter Jennifer Abernathy followed suit in the third game, becoming the 14th and 15th Wildcats, respectively, to accomplish the feat.

Yet the seniors were seemingly unaware that they had reached the milestones. While preparing to leave to see the movie "Saw II" together after the match, Glass said they had their eyes on a different prize.

"We want to leave a national championship - that would mean a whole lot more," said Glass, who recorded 22 kills and 10 digs for her 13th double-double of the season.

"The records are nice but it doesn't really matter," said Ladd, who earned her first double-double of the season with 10 kills and 10 blocks. "I would rather take a successful season like we've been having and (the) national championship over (records) any day."

Arizona head coach Dave Rubio said he's been anticipating the day that the three athletes would play at this level.

"It's been a good year for those guys, and so far it's been a season that we've all thought about for this group," he said. "We thought it might happen a little bit sooner. But often times, life doesn't work out the way you plan it, and the same goes with seasons."

Although the Wildcats (16-4, 8-3 Pacific 10 Conference) out-hit the Cougars (8-16, 1-10) .329 to .123, Arizona players said they were disappointed that they let the second game get away from them.

"We need to be hammering these teams," Ladd said. "We need to be absolutely taking care of it - decisively."

Abernathy, who tallied 21 digs and 15 kills, said that the Wildcats' inconsistent play after the first game may have caused the loss in the second.

"It was a little bit of breakdown, but I'm happy with my team, because we're a comeback team and we fought hard this match," she said.

Junior opposite hitter Kristina Baum had 16 kills, 14 digs and four blocks, while sophomore setter Amy Dyck contributed 54 assists, 12 digs, five blocks and four kills on .667 hitting for her fifth double-double of the season.

With the win over Washington State and a hard-fought, five-game loss to No. 2 Washington on Thursday night, Rubio said his team has proven itself on a national level.

"It was a good weekend for us," he said. "And the reason is because we walk out of here knowing that we are one of the best teams in the country and we still have a lot of room for improvement. I can't be more pleased with where we are right now."

The Wildcats take on ASU on Friday at 7 p.m. in McKale Center.