UA sweeps Pitt after win at ASU

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore middle blocker Marisa DaLee (12) spikes the ball past a Pittsburgh player Saturday night at McKale Center. DaLee hit a career-high as the No. 19 Wildcats swept Pittsburgh. Arizona will face California on Friday.

With an open date in the Pacific 10 Conference schedule, Arizona (16-2, 7-2) faced a rare weekend of back-to-back matches, the second of which was with Big East Conference's Panthers.

Friday night, the Wildcats defeated the Sun Devils (7-9, 4-5) 15-9, 9-15, 14-16, 15-13, 15-9 in an emotional match in front of 2,003 at the Wells Fargo Arena.

"Our practices from this week carried over into our play this weekend," UA head coach David Rubio said. "We played some of our best volleyball of the year against ASU."

Freshman outside hitter Jill Talbot had a triple-double with 14 kills, a match-high 18 digs and 10 assists against ASU.

Arizona had four players with double digit kills - Raelene Elam (18), Allison Napier (17), Marisa DaLee (10) and Talbot.

"I was extremely proud of our players," Rubio said. "It was one of the proudest moments of my coaching career.

We could have easily folded up our tent and put our tail between our legs and limped home.

"The kids played like champions, and it's the first time I've seen that from them all year."

His players agreed with his assessment.

"It was a big win for us," Elam said. "Every team competes their best against their rival, and that was one we would not lose. They played hard, we played hard. We just wanted it more."

On Saturday, Arizona defeated Pittsburgh (10-9) 15-9, 15-8, 16-14.

Sophomore middle blocker Marisa DaLee hit a career-high and team season-best .650, with 14 kills.

For freshman setter Dana Burkholder, the challenge Saturday night was to continue playing with intensity.

"It wasn't a letdown, just a different game," said Burkholder, who recorded 37 assists against the Panthers. "They're not our rival or a big-time team.

"Friday, it was intense because the rivalry's so big. Our team was pumped to play them. It doesn't matter who's the better team, just who's more motivated on that night."

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