By Staff Reports
Arizona Daily Wildcat
November 25, 1997

Tuesday's Tidbits

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Michaela Ebben

Senior setter Michaela Ebben was named Pacific 10 Conference player of the week yesterday - the UA volleyball team's first this season - for her performance over the weekend against seventh-ranked Southern Cal and UCLA.

Ebben's honor was the first time this season a Pac-10 player whose team lost a match received the award.

"It's interesting," head coach Dave Rubio said. "I always felt there were other times we deserved a Pac-10 player of the week (honor) when we had swept (the weekend). I'm proud of Michaela. She certainly deserves it but it's kind of odd that we get it when we split."

Ebben tallied 52 assists, 12 digs and four blocking assists in UA's win over the Trojans Friday evening. The win gave the Wildcats their 12th Pac-10 victory, the most in school history and posted the team's first back-to-back 20-win seasons since 1981 and 1982.

As redshirt freshman quarterback Ortege Jenkins continues to make Arizona football games worth going to, he discussed which quarterbacks he enjoys watching.

"My favorite quarterback is Dameyune Craig," said Jenkins about Auburn's junior quarterback. "They say I look like him on the field."

That is probably because they both are number 16, wear navy or white uniforms and have the unteachable ability to find a receiver downfield while throwing off one foot.

Jenkins, however, gave the most props to his fellow Pac-10 shot-callers.

"I think (University of Washington's) Brock Huard and (Washington State's) Ryan Leaf are the two best quarterbacks in the country," Jenkins said. "And (UCLA's) Cade McNown, too. They look at (Tennessee's) Peyton Manning and all the things he has done, but those guys are the best in the country." ...

Arizona guard Mike Bibby prefers to keep a low profile and stay away from saying nasty things - except when he gets mad at himself.

The normally sure-handed point guard committed a few turnovers early in the first half of last week's 115-53 rout of Morgan State and had finally had enough. After coughing up the ball again, Bibby let out a frustrated expletive that most in McKale Center's first few rows could hear ... and he didn't say fudge...

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Shelley Duncan

The UA baseball team signed 11 players to attend and play baseball at Arizona. All but one are instate signees. Seven are from the Tucson area. Highlighting the group is Canyon del Oro High School outfielder Shelley Duncan. The son of St. Louis Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan hit 14 home runs last year while leading Canyon del Oro to the 5A state championship last spring. Other stars in the group are 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher/designated hitter Ben Diggins of Bradshaw Mountain High in Dewey, Ariz. and outfielder Ken Huff of Scottsdale Horizon Highschool. Huff is the younger brother of Wildcat sophomore right-hander Kevin Huff. Brad Hassey of Salpoint High School also has Arizona relations. His dad Ron Hassey is a former Wildcat and major league catcher. "This is one of the best recruiting classes we've had in years," head coach Jerry Stitt said. "Last year's class was really good, but it was small. We've met all of our needs. We feel we'll be able to replace the guys we'll lose to graduation and to the draft next spring. Plus, we've signed three of the best players in the state in Duncan, Diggins, and Huff." ...

Icecat head coach Leo Golembiewski said that he doesn't like fighting in hockey. Saturday's game against Minot State must have left Golembiewski pretty upset with the sheer level of violence that erupted, and this was against a team Arizona had never played before. Two Icecats were ejected, five 10 minute penalties were assessed and fighting even erupted as the two teams left the ice after the Icecats' thrilling 8-6 win. The fans got into it as well, taunting both teams throughout the game. Icecat freshman right-wing Marc Harris said that things will be even "chippier" against archrival Arizona State when the Icecats travel to Phoenix this Friday after the UA-ASU football game. Earlier in the season, Icecat senior center and co-captain Ben Ruston promised that if the Sun Devils beat the Wildcats in football, the Icecats would get revenge and "beat the s... out of them ."

Charita Johnson, a former UA volleyball player and now an assistant coach, jokingly shouted, "Now you can keep your name," to Keisha Johnson, a starting middle blocker, after the junior blasted a ball in practice a few weeks ago. During Friday night's match against Southern Cal Keisha was referred to as "Charita Johnson" by the announcer on several occasions during the beginning of the contest...

The Arizona club soccer teams fell short at the national championships. The men lost to Michigan 1-0 in the championship game, and the women lost to Southwest Texas in the final by a score of 2-1. Earlier in the tournament, held in Phoenix, the men defeated Minnesota, Mississippi State, Illinois, Kansas, and Utah State before falling in the final. The women defeated LSU 2-0, tied SW Texas 0-0, and defeated Long Beach State 1-0. Both teams were No. 1 seeds. Heather Dunn, a midfielder, defender Hillary Saxon and midfielder Michelle Scaccia were named to the All-Tournament Team...

Two UA intramural football officials were selected as members of the officiating crew for the Nike College National Flag Football Tournament in New Orleans on Dec. 27-31.

Steve Yarema, a history senior, and sophomore T.J. Bertrand were two of four officials chosen by the University of San Diego intramural staff for their effort in the weekend's Far West Regional in San Diego. Four officials are chosen from each of the 11 nationwide regionals...

Tribe, the UA intramural football team that won the men's cactus division earlier this fall, will also represent UA in New Orleans. Tribe advanced by beating 20 teams at the west regional championship in Phoenix.