UA player looks to surpass slump with breakthrough game

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore outside hitter Allison Napier (7) bumps the ball while sophomore setter Nicole McIntyer (11) looks on. Napier is hitting .197 with 3.11 kills and 1.75 digs per game this season.

It wasn't until a breakout game Friday against Arizona State, in which Napier had 18 kills and nine digs, that she showed signs of overcoming her slump.

"My sense is that Alli is starting to make some decisions about the kind of player she wants to be," head coach David Rubio said. "Her biggest factor is her confidence, and she's learning how to develop that."

In the team's media guide, Napier lists her favorite Rubio saying as, "It's one thing to be a Division I player, it's another to be a Division I player every day."

This season, Napier has been upgraded to a full-time player, a position that makes her one of the focal players in the game. Last year, she was a reserve, and didn't have the expectations, averaging 1.48 kills per game.

"I guess it was hard for me to take on a big leadership role," Napier said. "I'm working on being more vocal and emotional for the team."

If that helps Napier become a better all-around player, Rubio's in favor of her being animated.

"Just now, she's starting to learn how to handle experience," Rubio said. "Alli's a great person, and I believe she's a competitive person."

Assistant coach Charita Johnson agreed with Rubio.

"I think she's becoming more confident and relaxed," Johnson said. "She normally beats herself up a lot."

This season, Napier is hitting .197 with 3.11 kills and 1.75 digs per game. She is third on the team in kills per game and blocks per game at 0.77.

"Alli had a good week of practice, and her numbers have improved over the past week," assistant coach Chris Lamb said.

Napier is one of the most popular players on the team, and her teammates and coaches were happy with her performance on Friday. Napier was jumping up and down after a big kill or block, inspiring her teammates in the five-game win over the Sun Devils.

Sophomore middle blocker Marisa DaLee, Napier's roommate and one of her best friends, liked the intensity she brought to the game.

"I think she got out of her slump last game," DaLee said. "When she gets excited, it helps her out. She could do it a lot more."

Napier was born and raised in Santa Ana, Calif. She was named team MVP all four years at Century High School. She also lettered in basketball all four years. She always wanted to play volleyball in the Pacific 10 Conference and go to Arizona.

Two seasons later, as the team enters the final weekend of the regular season with home matches against Washington and Washington State, Napier is confident her strong play will continue into the postseason.

"It's been rough for me this season, but better late then never," she said. "I'm learning to roll with the punches."

Her teammates are behind her.

"I think she had a lot more fire in the last match," freshman setter Dana Burkholder said. "She played well under pressure."

Senior middle blocker Keisha Johnson Demps also backs Napier.

"She was having a rough time for a while," Johnson Demps said. "She noticed that it was the end of the season and time for her to step up."

With the NCAA tournament approaching, there probably couldn't be a better time for Napier to take that step.

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