Rubio turns up intensity:

Brian D. Rothschild Arizona Daily Wildcat UA senior Carrie Penfield ruturns a dig during yesterday's practice. Penfield, an outside hitter, ranks second in the pacicifc 10 conference for service aces with a 0.47 per game average.

The Wildcats are coming off their worst loss in school history Saturday against Southern California, managing to score just eight points the entire match.

"We did a lot of digging and defensive stuff. It was pretty intense because after coming off a loss like that everyone wants to work hard," sophomore Raelene Morton said.

The Trojans allowed only a combined 19 points in their sweeps of Arizona and Arizona State, the lowest point-total allowed in back-to-back, 3-game matches since 1977.

The Wildcats (9-1 overall, 1-1 Pacific 10 Conference) are not dwelling on the loss though. Rather, all eyes are set on Friday when they meet Arizona State at McKale Center for the first time this season.

"There's really not one thing that caused us to lose," Morton said. "We're taking it as a learning experience and moving on."

Coach Dave Rubio said drills this week are more coach-initiated and are focusing on refining individual players' fundamentals.

One of the more intense drills includes coaches spiking balls at the players. A player does not get out of the drill until she digs 10 balls.

"I said 'Whoa, that was a heavy practice (after Monday).' They were hitting balls at us as hard as we've ever seen them hit at us," Morton said.

"Defense in general determines the competitive level and spirit of the team and the defense needs to get better," Rubio said.

The Wildcats, who dropped one spot to No. 16 in the USA Today/AVCA Poll after a weekend split in Los Angeles, aren't complaining about the demanding practices.

"We have to work hard four days in practice. We have a lot of work to do," Morton said.

"We realized we aren't as good as we need to be (after Saturday's match). There's still so much room for improvement."

Morton is leading the Pac-10 in service aces with 19 on the season and senior Carrie Penfield is a close second with 17. In all, Arizona is second behind Southern Cal in the conference in aces, averaging 1.89 per game.

"You have to go back (to the service line) and think this is an ace," Morton said. "You just go back there and rip it. You figure a spot you want to hit it right to and you tell yourself it's an ace."

In addition to her aces, Morton has also has committed 20 serving errors.

"It's a fine line you have to draw with servers. Serving for us is a very important part of our strategy because of some of the havoc it creates," Rubio said. "If we don't serve aggressively my feeling is we become passive on other parts of our game."

Morton served five aces and six errors over the weekend.

"Dave tells us he wants us to serve tough. He doesn't care if we miss 40 serves as a team but we've got to serve tough," Morton said. "Sometimes you don't get the right connection but it's better than putting a lollipop over the net and having them crush it back at you."

Penfield, who went ace-less over the weekend, had a monster game against UCLA Friday, posting a team-high in kills (22) and digs (17). She was unable to repeat the following night in the 3-game loss to Southern Cal though, recording just two digs and one kill in 12 attempts.

"She had her best match to date and has never had to go out and do it again the next night. She'll learn how to do that and prepare herself," Rubio said.

The Wildcats play just one match this weekend but host Washington State and Washington in back-to-back dates the following weekend.

Penfield attacked the ball 57 times against the Bruins, almost twice as many as she accustomed to in conference play last season as a junior.

"It was basically a total different role that I've ever had to take on before so I think it will take time to adjust," said Penfield, who hit the ball just 12 times in Saturday's loss to the Trojans.

"I can't put my finger on why I didn't play well at SC. Part of it was probably the fact that I had so many swings (Friday). I never actually knew what it took or what was expected. Now I know what it will take in a match. The experience last weekend was something that will help in weekends to come."