Post by roofed! on Oct 8, 2006 19:02:18 GMT -5
[ftp]http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/wildcats/150187[/ftp]
Wildcats miss chances in loss to No. 4 USC
By Sarah Trotto
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.08.2006
Dominique Lamb could not find the answer, but she knows it's certainly a problem for the Arizona volleyball team.
"We don't know how to finish," said Lamb, a junior middle blocker.
The Wildcats let a five-point lead slip away late in the second game and also failed to convert game point in the third game of their 3-0 loss to No. 4 USC on Saturday night at McKale Center. The scores were 30-19, 30-27, 33-31.
Arizona (9-8, 0-5 Pac-10) has dropped six consecutive matches for the first time since 1995, when the Wildcats went 14-14 overall and 6-12 in the conference.
Coach David Rubio pointed to his team's reliance on young players who lack high-level playing experience. He said the Trojans (17-0, 6-0) succeeded by leaning on outside hitter Asia Kaczor, a junior college transfer and member of the Polish national team. She finished with 10 kills on .194 hitting, six digs and an ace.
"The person that got them out of trouble all the time was their kid from Poland," Rubio said. "Even though she didn't have a great night, she really made some things happen. They get a kid transferring in under very suspicious circumstances. Instead of relying on a freshman or a sophomore who's never played before, now they're getting a kid that's got international experience. Some would say that maybe she could even be a professional player who's played in the top leagues in Europe, which she has played in.
"So, you have programs like USC and Cal who have players who are not players from the same system. I'm saying we're relying on players who have never played this level where someone like her, this game is a step down for her in terms of the level she's played at."
Added Rubio about Kaczor: "There are several players in the country like that. She's one of several."
After three players finished with double-digit kills in Arizona's 3-1 loss to No. 3 UCLA Friday night, sophomore Brooke Buringrud was the Wildcats' only player with double-figure kills (12) Saturday. Lamb added nine.
"We didn't play our game," Lamb said. "We didn't play like we train."
The Wildcats hit .092 to the Trojans' .197 in Arizona's third 3-0 loss of the season.
USC held a 52-41 advantage in digs and a 6-3 edge in service aces.
"Did I anticipate us being where we are now? Sure," Rubio said. "You hope you're not where you are now. The reality is young teams find a way to lose and that's exactly what we're doing against some pretty good teams."
Saturday's loss concluded a treacherous stretch against four top-10 opponents — No. 6 Stanford, No. 7 Cal, No. 3 UCLA and USC. The UA next faces unranked Oregon and Oregon State on the road next weekend.
"If we don't at least split next weekend, we're putting ourselves in a position where the playoffs aren't within reach," Rubio said.
"I'm interested to see how this team responds," he added. "This team will turn the corner. It's just a question whether it's in 2006 or 2007. Everyone knows it will happen."
Wildcats miss chances in loss to No. 4 USC
By Sarah Trotto
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.08.2006
Dominique Lamb could not find the answer, but she knows it's certainly a problem for the Arizona volleyball team.
"We don't know how to finish," said Lamb, a junior middle blocker.
The Wildcats let a five-point lead slip away late in the second game and also failed to convert game point in the third game of their 3-0 loss to No. 4 USC on Saturday night at McKale Center. The scores were 30-19, 30-27, 33-31.
Arizona (9-8, 0-5 Pac-10) has dropped six consecutive matches for the first time since 1995, when the Wildcats went 14-14 overall and 6-12 in the conference.
Coach David Rubio pointed to his team's reliance on young players who lack high-level playing experience. He said the Trojans (17-0, 6-0) succeeded by leaning on outside hitter Asia Kaczor, a junior college transfer and member of the Polish national team. She finished with 10 kills on .194 hitting, six digs and an ace.
"The person that got them out of trouble all the time was their kid from Poland," Rubio said. "Even though she didn't have a great night, she really made some things happen. They get a kid transferring in under very suspicious circumstances. Instead of relying on a freshman or a sophomore who's never played before, now they're getting a kid that's got international experience. Some would say that maybe she could even be a professional player who's played in the top leagues in Europe, which she has played in.
"So, you have programs like USC and Cal who have players who are not players from the same system. I'm saying we're relying on players who have never played this level where someone like her, this game is a step down for her in terms of the level she's played at."
Added Rubio about Kaczor: "There are several players in the country like that. She's one of several."
After three players finished with double-digit kills in Arizona's 3-1 loss to No. 3 UCLA Friday night, sophomore Brooke Buringrud was the Wildcats' only player with double-figure kills (12) Saturday. Lamb added nine.
"We didn't play our game," Lamb said. "We didn't play like we train."
The Wildcats hit .092 to the Trojans' .197 in Arizona's third 3-0 loss of the season.
USC held a 52-41 advantage in digs and a 6-3 edge in service aces.
"Did I anticipate us being where we are now? Sure," Rubio said. "You hope you're not where you are now. The reality is young teams find a way to lose and that's exactly what we're doing against some pretty good teams."
Saturday's loss concluded a treacherous stretch against four top-10 opponents — No. 6 Stanford, No. 7 Cal, No. 3 UCLA and USC. The UA next faces unranked Oregon and Oregon State on the road next weekend.
"If we don't at least split next weekend, we're putting ourselves in a position where the playoffs aren't within reach," Rubio said.
"I'm interested to see how this team responds," he added. "This team will turn the corner. It's just a question whether it's in 2006 or 2007. Everyone knows it will happen."