Rubio 'nervous' about Cal

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat Senior middle blocker Keisha Johnson Demps (25) spikes the ball as freshman outside hitter Jill Talbot (32) stands by. The UA volleyball team will face Berkeley tonight in California and play Pac-10 leader Stanford Sunday afternoon.

UA head coach David Rubio said he expects his team to focus on the Cal match instead of looking ahead to Sunday afternoon's showdown with Pac-10 leader Stanford.

"The Cal match is a match that makes me nervous because they're on a run," Rubio said. "It's natural for us to overlook Cal in favor of Stanford."

Cal (6-12, 2-7) won its first two conference matches last weekend, sweeping Oregon and Oregon State on the road. Earlier in the season, Cal head coach Sue Woodstra resigned and was replaced by assistant coach Lee Maes. Many of the Cal players reportedly approached school officials with complaints about Woodstra, and have been pleased with Maes so far.

Rubio said the Wildcats' intensity when they faces Stanford will take care of itself.

"I won't have to worry about the intensity level and consistency against Stanford," Rubio said. "We're improving on the things we're working on in practice, and doing well at this point."

Rubio, who feels that the team is slightly fatigued, gave the players Sunday and Monday off to get away from the sport and each other, and to take care of school work and relax. Rubio himself needed a few days to recover from a wild victory celebration injury he suffered after the win last Friday against ASU.

"I dislocated my shoulder after the win while high-fiving (assistant coach) Rita (Johnson)," Rubio said. "At the same time, (assistant coach) Chris Lamb patted me on the back, and I dislocated my shoulder for about five minutes."

No. 6 Stanford (14-2, 9-0) is on a 13-match winning streak and a 34-match conference winning streak. Arizona has never beaten Stanford in Palo Alto, Calif.

More bad news for the Wildcats is that Stanford All-American outside hitter Kerri Walsh is back to full-swing after undergoing shoulder surgery last spring.

"Stanford has really improved," Rubio said. "Kerri Walsh is swinging and looks healthy. Their complexion changes having her as an attacker."

The Arizona players said they are excited about the chance to upset Stanford this weekend.

"I'm excited because I want to beat Stanford on their home court," sophomore middle blocker Marisa DaLee said.

For Antioch, Calif., native Keisha Johnson Demps, there's another reason to be excited.

"I can't wait to play this weekend because I get to go home," Johnson Demps said.

She leads the Wildcats in total kills, with 242 (3.56 per game).

"We're excited because the second half of the season is starting," Johnson said. "I'm looking forward to playing well. We haven't been playing bad, but the second half of the season takes on a whole new attitude."

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