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Volleyball travels to Nebraska for tournament

The University of Arizona women's volleyball team (4-1) will spend its weekend at the 1999 U.S. Bank Tournament in Lincoln, Neb.

With sophomore Dana Burkholder and freshman Lisa Rutledge back in the fold after competing for the U.S. Junior National team, the Wildcats will be at full strength for the first time since the start of the season two weeks ago.

"It's good to have all the faces back," UA head coach David Rubio said. "It's a very complete feeling."

The Wildcats' opponents this weekend will include 5th-ranked Nebraska and perennial western powerhouse San Diego State. Unranked South Florida will also be competing.

The Wildcats open the tournament Friday night against San Diego State, one of the charter members of the new Mountain West Conference.

The Aztecs are coming off a near-upset of Long Beach State, the defending national champions, last Tuesday night in their home opener. Senior setter Lisa Bostian registered 32 assists and 7 digs as SDSU fell 15-6, 13-15, 15-6 and 15-8.

The Wildcats will need to look out for the scoring combination senior Nicole Curtis and sophomore Nadia Privara, two of the Aztecs' most powerful scoring threats. The Wildcats are a paltry 5-19-1 against San Diego State, a team in which they are fast becoming rivals with.

After Saturday morning's match against South Florida, the Wildcats will embark on what will be one of the more defining matches of the season. Nebraska is ranked fifth in the nation and is coming off two losses to top-6 teams.

After two midweek losses to preseason No. 1 Penn State and the University of Pacific, the Cornhuskers are hoping to avoid a potential crushing blow from the Wildcats, a team that has only won one match against a ranked team in the past two years.

"The thing we're looking for going into this weekend is better alertness and consistency," Nebraska head coach Terry Pettit told The Daily Nebraskan. "When an opponent gives us an opportunity, we need to take it."

The Wildcats success in this tournament will hinge on the team's ability to gel with the return of Burkholder and Rutledge, who rejoined the team Monday following two weeks in Canada competing for the U.S. Junior National team. The two will join the Pacific 10 Conference player of the week junior Marisa DaLee, and the team's only returning senior, Raelene Elam as they attempt to pull off an upset against Nebraska.

"It'll be interesting to see how the team comes together with the girls back," Rubio said. "We'll definitely be more physical."