'Shocking' UA volleyball team sweeps weekend tournament

Aaron Wickenden Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior outside hitter Raelene Elam bumps the ball during a kid's camp held at McKale Center Aug 23. Elam, Arizona's only returning starter from last year, and the rest of the Wildcats swept the University Park Holiday Inn Classic this weekend in Fort Collins, Colo.

Arizona defeated Middle Tennessee State 15-8, 15-8, 15-10 Friday night, followed by victories over Indiana 10-15, 15-11, 6-15, 15-11, 15-11 and host Colorado State 7-15, 15-9, 15-12, 15-5 Saturday.

"The match with CSU was a hard-fought match," UA head coach David Rubio said. "Neither team was playing particularly well."

Johnson Demps was named the tournament MVP for her 52 kills and 32 digs in the three matches.

"It was a good weekend, a surprising one," Rubio said. "Overall, I am really pleased. We're excited to be where we are."

Freshman setter Dana Burkholder joined Johnson Demps on the All-Tournament Team, recording 154 assists.

Sophomore outside hitter Allison Napier matched her career best with a match-high 18 kills against Colorado State, while sophomore middle blocker Marisa DaLee had seven blocks. DaLee hit .438 with 41 kills for the tournament.

Napier had high praise for her teammates.

"Keisha and Marisa are very dominating," Napier said. "Not many middle blockers can stop them."

DaLee had 20 kills, doubling her career high, in UA's five-set win over Indiana. DaLee's hitting percentage of .543 against IU is the fourth-best ever by an Arizona player in a five-set match. She had only one attack error in the match.

"The Indiana match gave us a good indication of where we are," Rubio said. "We had to play at a much higher level. The fourth game was the turning point. We could have easily rolled over, down two sets to one, but the players hung in there and won it."

Johnson Demps had 17 kills and hit .429 in Friday's match against Middle Tennessee State. Junior Raelene Elam had 10 kills and DaLee added nine.

"I was pleased we played well at moments. However, I felt like we were sloppy at the end of the game," said Rubio of the MTSU match. "Our youth shows. We are a very young team and at times, our inconsistency shows."

Napier agreed with her coach.

"It surprised me to see how we have come together," Napier said. "It's shocking."

Bryan Rosenbaum can be reached via e-mail at Bryan.Rosenbaum@wildcat.arizona.edu.