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Volleyball opens Pac-10 play tonight

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshman outside hitter Shannon Torregrosa serves the ball during a match earlier this year. The Wildcats open the Pac-10 season tonight against Oregon State at 7 p.m.

If the UA volleyball team hasn't come together yet, it's time to start.

The No. 14 Wildcats open up at the Pacific 10 Conference tonight at 7 when they take on Oregon State at home. This match marks the first time the UA (6-2 overall) has played a home game at full strength all season.

"We can't take anyone too lightly, especially OSU," freshman outside hitter Shannon Torregrosa said. "We're excited to get in front of the home crowd and see what we can do."

Joining the Wildcats for the homecoming are freshman Lisa Rutledge and sophomore Dana Burkholder, both of whom returned to the team last weekend after a month in Canada, competing for the U.S. Junior National Team. In their first games back last weekend, the Wildcats swept both San Diego State and South Florida before losing No. 5 Nebraska on the road.

"We thought we could handle them," Torregrosa said of the Nebraska match. "We were playing lights-out in the first two matches."

"The team was coming together, but we just bombed the last match. The Cornhuskers didn't beat us, we just beat ourselves."

The Beavers (5-2 overall) present a formidable opponent to the Wildcats. OSU swept No. 18 San Diego two weeks ago, its first victory against a ranked team in almost two years.

Oregon State is led by senior Sarah Bjedanes, who was named this week's Pac-10 Player of the Week after taking Most Valuable Player honors at last weekend's Nanook Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska.

"Sarah is one heck of a volleyball player," UA head coach David Rubio said. "She'll give us fits if we let her."

The Beavers return five of their six starters, and despite having a new coach, look to compete in the Pac-10 this year.

Nancy Somera, former Southern Cal. assistant coach, takes over the OSU program this year. Somera had a part in the cultivation of eight All Americans while earning eight consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances during her years with the Trojans.

"Coach Somera is one of the most up-and-coming leaders out there," Rubio said. "Even though she's new, Nancy is wielding a great squad."

Rubio said his team isn't taking the Beavers lightly.

"Oregon State will beat us if we don't watch it." Rubio said. "I've been watching tape all day and, needless to say, I'm incredibly impressed."

With another week comes yet another Marisa DaLee milestone. The UA junior received Pac-10 player of the week honors last week, also chalking up Most Valuable Player honors at the Embassy Suites Wildcat Classic.

During last Saturday's match against Nebraska, DaLee passed the 1,000 kill attempt plateau. More notably though, is the fact that DaLee holds the highest kill percentage of any UA player with over 1,000 attempts. Hitting .368 in her career, DaLee is followed by Erin Aldrich who hit only .300 during the 1996-97 season.