Volleyball nets 21st win in marathon contest

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshman outside hitter Jill Talbot (32) bumps the ball back into the center of the court toward Keisha Johnson Demps (25) during yesterday's game against Washington State University. Talbot had 17 kills and Demps had 18 in Arizona's regular-season ending 18-16, 6-15, 11-15, 15-13, 15-12 win.

The end result was a fourth place finish at 12-6 in the Pacific 10 Conference and the best regular season overall record at 21-6 since Arizona joined the Pac-10 in 1986. The team also set a record for the most wins since 1982, when it went 22-16 in the West Coast Athletic Association.

Victory No. 21, though, did not come easily, as yesterday's game against the Cougars lasted 2 hours, 32 minutes before the Wildcats pulled it out 18-6, 6-15, 11-15, 15-13, 15-12.

"It was a slow day," UA sophomore middle blocker Marisa DaLee said. "But I am so happy with the end result. It went for awhile. But hopefully we got this playing out of our system.

"In the tournament, we just need to play like we did Friday."

DaLee led all players in yesterday's match with 21 kills. She also led the Wildcats Friday night with 14 kills and a .393 hitting percentage in their sweep of the Huskies (7-14, 6-11) 15-4, 15-5, 15-13.

"We didn't want to overlook this game," sophomore setter Nicole McIntyre said of yesterday's match. "But I guess we just struggled, with playoffs in sight and all. We just didn't focus, but we got the W."

McIntyre recorded four aces against the Huskies on Friday.

Senior middle blocker Keisha Johnson Demps also said nerves contributed to the slow start against the Cougars.

"It was a difficult game," she said. "My nerves were just so bad in the first and second games and I just couldn't shake it."

Johnson Demps didn't let her nerves hold her back too much, though, adding 18 kills and a .256 hitting percentage to her stats.

Also marking her name in Arizona record books was junior outside hitter Raelene Elam, adding an Arizona season-high of five service aces.

"I didn't do anything fancy," Elam said, referring to her service in the fifth game that helped edge her team a few up against the Cougars. "We had to pull ahead, so I just got it in, knowing the rest of team could take care of it. I knew it was my chance to serve aggressively."

Freshman setter Dana Burkholder had an aggressive streak to her playing as well. She came within one assist of the Arizona single-match record with 77. Burkholder also recorded a Wildcat season-high mark with 26 digs.

With the record books burning with Arizona names across the table, the players will now wait for the NCAA's announcement Sunday regarding the 64 team tournament field.

"We're very confident," Elam said. "If we play like we can, we can take it all the way -easily."

Kate Longworth can be reached via e-mail at Kate.Longworth@wildcat.arizona.edu.