Volleyball approaches tournament-time

Arizona (19-6 overall, 10-6 Pacific 10 Confer-ence) stands alone in fourth place in the conference standings, and can only go up. An NCAA berth is certain, head coach David Rubio said, but the mystery of who and where the Wildcats will play won't be decided until after Thanksgiving.

The team says "cheese" in team huddles after practice to focus on their ultimate goal - the Final Four in Madison, Wis.

"Our goal is not just the first and second round, but eventually the Final Four," senior outside hitter Jodi Bethke said.

To prepare for the postseason, the team has been practicing harder and harder. While some players may not love all the running and conditioning after practice, they know it's for their own good.

"My real expectation is that we go play hard and play like we have in practice and in matches, then the winning will take care of itself," sophomore outside hitter Allison Napier said.

For senior middle blocker Keisha Johnson Demps, these are her last couple of weeks of collegiate athletics, meaning she'll do anything to take the Wildcats as far as she can.

"My personal goal is to do everything I can do to help us get far," Johnson Demps said. "I have to give everything I have left, and take some time to enjoy it as well."

Most teams outside of the Pac-10 see Arizona as an unknown quantity, while teams in the conference see Arizona's potential.

Rubio looks at the season in three parts - the preseason, conference season and postseason.

While Arizona has done relatively well given the players' youth and inexperience, it's this time of year that determines how far the team has come since August.

"Things will fall into place for us," Rubio said.

Regardless of what happens, it's been an exciting ride for such a young team.

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