Volleyball looks to end slide against ASU

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshman starting setter Dana Burkholder (21) sets the ball for Marisa DaLee (12) during a game against Oregon State at McKale Center on Nov. 1. Burkholder leads the Wildcats with 1,075 assists and 245 digs.

There's not a better match to get the team fired up than tonight's against arch rival Arizona State, whom Arizona faces at McKale Center at 7.

"It's always an advantage to play your state rival at home because the crowd's on your side," UA assistant coach Charita Johnson said.

The Sun Devils (10-12, 7-8) gave Arizona a difficult match in October up in Tempe, but the Wildcats pulled out a 3-2 victory.

Since then, Arizona has faced the cold reality of having such a young and inexperienced squad. After losing to No. 6 Stanford on the road, Arizona was stunned by Pac-10 doormat Oregon at home. Last weekend, the Wildcats dropped matches to No. 20 UCLA and No. 11 Southern Cal in Los Angeles.

"I knew things would change dramatically at the second half of the (conference) season because every team is that much better," UA head coach David Rubio said. "Many people would doubt me, but this is a good cycle for our team to be on because we've never experienced this."

If the Wildcats are on a cold streak, it isn't Marisa DaLee's fault. The sophomore middle blocker from Phoenix is on a tear, hitting .402 on the season. If she keeps up her current pace, she'll break the school's single-season record set in 1985. DaLee's hitting percentage is tops in the Pac-10 and 12th in the nation.

Also performing consistently well is freshman setter Dana Burkholder, who has shattered the school's freshman record for assists. She is already eighth on the UA career assist leaderboard.

Even as a freshman, Burkholder loves the intensity of playing the school's big rivals.

"The crowd's on your side and you have home court advantage," she said. "We're just trying to get ready for the playoffs and trying to win our next three matches."

Friday's match is the only one of the weekend for both teams, so expect some fireworks.

"It's simple a matter of competition when you play ASU," Johnson said. "You throw everything out the window when you play ASU. It's whoever competes better that night."

Tonight's game is free with a student ID.

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