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Wildcats have easy time in Oregon

Despite struggling throughout the year to win important matches at home, the UA women's volleyball team has proven it can win on the road.

This past weekend was no different.

The Wildcats (17-9 overall, 11-6 in the Pacific 10 Conference) swept both Oregon and Oregon State on the road, running their Pac-10 road record to 7-2, a school record.

The Wildcats played most of the match against Oregon and all of the match against Oregon State without sophomore setter Dana Burkholder who was out with a sore groin.

"I like the fact that we have proven that we can win on the road," UA head coach David Rubio said. "It really shows what the team is made of."

In Friday night's match, junior middle blocker Marisa DaLee hit .500 from the field with nine kills en route to a 15-10, 15-4, 15-7 sweep of the Ducks. UA hit .439 from the field for the match, the fourth-highest match kill percentage in the program's history. Seven of eight UA players used in the match hit over .438 from the field.

"All of our players played well. Oregon was really outmanned," Rubio said.

A main contributor for the high kill percentage was the fact that the Wildcats had just nine attack errors for the match and outblocked the Ducks 9-1.

The sweep by UA brings a merciful end to a terrible Oregon season, one in which the team lost 16 straight matches at one point.

"Some seasons you enjoy, some seasons you endure," Oregon coach Cathy Nelson said.

With the loss, the Ducks finished the season with a 7-20 overall record and 1-17 in conference play.

Saturday night saw the Wildcats make quick work of Oregon State with a 15-3, 15-6, 15-11 sweep.

UA outside hitter Lisa Rutledge recorded nine kills in 14 attempts as the Wildcats locked up fourth place in the Pac-10 for the second season in a row.

DaLee hit .500 from the field for the second straight night, logging 11 kills for the match.

"Marisa played with more intensity this weekend. She was blocking incredibly well," Rubio said. "Marisa did some things that I have never seen her do before. She played incredibly well on defense."

The Beavers fell to a record of 8-18 overall with a paltry 2-16 mark in conference play.

"We had to play our last two matches against teams that are ranked in the bottom of the Pac-10. We had them really outmanned," Rubio said.

Stefani Saragosa also returned to the UA lineup following a grueling two week absence involving shin splints.

"She is feeling okay. We had her on a swing count in both matches, but because both of them were relatively short, we didn't have to worry," Rubio said.

The Wildcats return home next weekend as they host the Starwoods Plaza Hotel Thanksgiving Tournament in McKale Center, hosting No. 9 Hawaii on Friday night at 7.