Basketball practices force volleyball to Bear Down Gym

Aaron Wickenden Arizona Daily Wildcat UA volleyball coach David Rubio talks with freshman setter Dana Burkholder (21) during a match against UCLA at McKale Center Oct. 9. The Wildcats will be at home Friday against Oregon at 7 p.m.

For volleyball head coach David Rubio, the move is a pleasant change.

"I have always wanted to move to Bear Down," Rubio said. "I think it would be a nice facility for us, but I think if we're going to do it, we have to do it right."

Rubio hopes the team will eventually make Bear Down its permanent home, but the issue has been put on the hold by the athletic department. The conversion from a recreational gym to a full-time volleyball facility is not the department's No. 1 priority.

Aside from the walk over from the locker rooms at McKale, the change of venue is refreshing for Rubio and the team.

"For me, it gets me out of this building, which is nice," Rubio said. "I've always enjoyed the intensity and the floor at Bear Down. It's nice to change things up a bit."

The competition for a starting spot between freshmen Jill Talbot and Lesley DuBois is heating up as the second half of the Pacific 10 Conference season has begun.

Talbot started on the right side for Friday's match at California, but DuBois started against Stanford on Sunday.

"Jill played an O.K. game on Friday," Rubio said. "I didn't feel like she was practicing hard enough on Saturday to warrant a starting spot. Lesley DuBois has come on strong lately, and I'm not going to hesitate to play her. The biggest thing is that the players continue to develop. Then we can look to change things up a little bit."

Added to the mix is Nadia Sefferovich, who is coming off an ankle injury she suffered in practice in September.

"Nadia is such a talented player, and will be a great player later on down the line," Rubio said.

With Sefferovich returning to action, the Wildcats' injured list is shortening.

Sophomore defensive specialist Elvina Clark continues to be out with a dislocated right elbow.

"Elvina is slowly getting better, and I hope she can play soon," Rubio said.

Rubio's shoulder is also doing well, but it's not entirely healed. The coach dislocated his right shoulder after high-fiving assistant coach Charita Johnson and getting patted on the back by assistant coach Chris Lamb simultaneously after the win at Arizona State two weeks ago.

"I can't do an overhead serve yet," he said. "I'm not quite 100 percent."

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