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By Sam Spiller
Arizona Daily Wildcat
November 27, 1996
The Pacific 10 Conference season is over for the Arizona volleyball team and now it is time to prepare for the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Although the tournament participants will not be announced until Sunday, there is little doubt that the No. 19 Wildcats will be on the floor when play starts on Dec. 7."The biggest thing is to get our team healthy," UA head coach Dave Rubio said. "Four of my players are down with the flu. This week gives us time to recover."
The All-Pac-10 team was announced this week, and UA senior outside hitter Barb Bell was named to the first team.
She has tallied 481 kills so far this season, the third best in UA history. Bell also holds the school's second-best mark in kills in a season with 497, 23 behind Terry Lauchner, the record holder. Her career kill mark is now 1,823, fourth all-time in the Pac-10. Bell's 21 kills against California was the 100th time she has recorded a double-figure kill total in a match.
Rubio said to expect the same from Bell going into the tournament.
"Barb's role won't change at all," Rubio said. "She's doing a great job and is a great leader. It's nice to have her experience going into the tournament. She and Heidi (Bomberger) have been there three of four years."
Middle blocker Erin Aldrich was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman team this week. She was also an honorable mention in the All-Pac-10 voting.
Aldrich has been consistent in the middle since she earned the starting role last month. She has tallied 199 kills since Pac-10 play began, second only to Bell. She leads the team in block assists and is second to Bell in solo blocks.
The Wildcats may have the home court advantage in the first round of the tournament. Rubio said he expects the first round to be played at McKale Center.
"It will allow us to sustain a routine we are comfortable with," Rubio said. "There's always confidence when you are playing at home.
"To get to the Final Four, you have to be able to play in hostile territory. We've won in the second round before in hostile territory, so it won't be new."
Rubio said Arizona will probably play a school from another conference, but in the second round there is a good chance they would play a team from the Pac-10.
"There isn't going to be a tremendous time to scout the team we will play," Rubio said.
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