Issue link: https://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1021958
2 0 1 8 P A C - 1 2 V O L L E Y B A L L M E D I A G U I D E 14 A R I Z O N A W I L D C AT S WILDCAT FACTS Location: Tucson, AZ 85721 Founded/Enrollment: 1885/42,236 Colors: Cardinal & Navy Joined Pac-12: 1986 All-Time Record: 675-479-2 (41 years) Home Court: McKale Center (14,655) President: Robert Robbins Faculty Rep: Jory Hancock Athletic Director: Dave Heeke SWA: Erika Barnes Head Coach: David Rubio (CS Northridge, '82) Career Record: 612-376 (31 years) Arizona Record: 490-309 (26 years) Pac-12 Record: 246-238 (26 years) Office: (520) 621-2856 Fax: (520) 626-7018 Assistant Coaches: Gregg Whitis, Charita Stubbs SID: James Francis Office: (520) 621-8001 Cell: (520) 275-9895 Fax: (520) 621-2681 Volleyball SID: Danny Martinez E-Mail: danny.martinez@arizona.edu Office: 520-621-0084 Cell: 520-409-1810 Press Row Phone: (520) 621-5291 2017 Records: Overall: 11-18 Pac-12: 5-15 (10th) NCAA: None RECORD HOLDERS KILLS Career: 2151 Kim Glass, 2002-05 Season: 650 Kim Glass, 2003 Match: 41 Melissa McLinden vs. Brigham Young (12/14/85) HITTING PERCENTAGE Career: .397 Marisa DaLee, 1997-00 Season: .437 Marisa DaLee, 2000 Match: .778 Dominique Lamb (14-0-18) vs. Oregon State (11/10/06) ASSISTS Career: 5424 Dana Burkholder, 1998-2001 Season: 1,562 Dana Burkholder, 2000 Match: 84 Dana Burkholder vs. Arizona State (9/13/00) TOTAL BLOCKS Career: 532 Kelly Waage, 1986-89 Season: 226 Kelly Waage, 1988 Match: 17 Beth Raymond vs. Oregon State (10/25/86) DIGS Career: 1642 Candace Nicholson, 2010-13 Season: 512 Candace Nicholson, 2013 Match: 37 Katie Jackels vs. Oregon State (8/25/07) SERVICE ACES Career: 162 Kim Glass, 2002-05 Season: 80 Kiyomi Morino, 1987 Match: 8 Kathleen Guthrie vs. Utah (9/7/82) NO. NAME POS HT YR EXP HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL (LAST SCHOOL) 1 Erin Williamson L/DS 5-6 Fr. HS Johns Creek, Ga./Johns Creek HS 2 Candice Denny MB 6-2 So. 1V Saratoga, Calif./Archbishop Mitty HS 3 Shardonee Hayes MB 6-3 R-So. 1V Columbus, Ga./Columbus HS 4 Julia Patterson S 5-11 Jr. 2V Los Alamitos, Calif./Los Alamitos HS 5 Victoria Svorinic L/DS 5-9 Sr. 2V Scottsdale, Ariz./Notre Dame Prep 6 Katie Smoot OH 6-2 So. 1V San Mateo, Calif./Notre Dame HS 7 Mackenzie Hernandez S 5-11 Sr. 1V Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield HS (Bakersfield Coll.) 8 Kendra Dahlke OH 6-0 Sr. 3V Bonsall, Calif./Fallbrook HS 10 Paige Whipple OH 6-1 So. 1V Salem, Ore./West Salem HS 11 Klaire Thoman L/DS 5-5 Fr. HS Irvine, Calif./University HS 12 Julia Handy S 5-9 Fr. HS Turlock, Calif./Turlock HS 13 Devyn Cross MB 6-0 Jr. 2V Edwards Air Force Base, Calif./Desert HS 14 Gabriella Halcovich L/DS 5-9 So. RS Palm Springs, Calif./Mater Dei HS 15 Malina Ua L/DS 5-7 Fr. HS Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood HS 16 Zyonna Fellows MB 6-4 Fr. HS Tacoma, Wash./Tacoma HS 17 Elizabeth Shelton OH 6-2 R-So. 1V Rosamond, Calif./Desert HS 18 Whittnee Nihipali OH 6-2 Fr. HS Las Vegas, Nev./ Shadow Ridge HS 20 Alexa Podraza L/DS 5-6 Fr. HS San Diego Calif./Scripps Ranch HS 22 Makenna Martin L/DS 5-9 Jr. 2V Gilbert, Ariz./Gilbert HS 33 Emi Pua'a L/DS 5-8 Jr. TR Honolulu, Hawaii/(Iowa Western CC) Letterwinners Returning/Lost/Newcomers: 11/6/9 Returning starters in bold. RUBIO'S CAREER RECORD Year School Overall Conference Postseason 1987-91 CS Bakersfield (5 years) 122-66 (.649) 39-19 (.672) 9-3 (.750) 1992-17 Arizona (26 years) 490-309 (.613) 246-238 (.508) 26-18 (.545) Career totals (31 years) 612-375 (.620) 285-257 (.526) 26-18 (.545) Div. I only • 1989 NCAA II National Champion, 2001 NCAA National Semifinals HEAD COACH DAVID RUBIO • Has led the Wildcats to 13 20-win seasons and 19 NCAA apperances, including seven NCAA apperances in the last nine years, UA's best streak since going to 10 straight from 1996-2005. • Leads all active conference coaches with 490 victories as a Pac-12 coach. • Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 2000, leading UA to its first Conference title. • Guided Arizona from a winless league record in 1991 to the NCAA West Regionals in 1993. That same year was named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) West Region Coach of the Year. • Prior to arriving at UA, Rubio won a Div. II title at Cal State Bakersfield in 1989 and let the team to two Final 4s. TEAM OUTLOOK Arizona is coming off a difficult season which saw its run of four-straight NCAA Tournament apperances come to an end. The 2017 Wildcats had to contend with replacing significant losses, including the graduations of All-Americans Penina Snuka (2016 Pac-12 Setter of the Year) and Kalei Mau. Those losses fell to a young squad that had just two seniors on the team. In 2018, that squad is a year older and a year wiser. With all six starters returning and the top libero, and 12 letterwinners in all, Arizona should see an improved season from the experience. STRENGTHS • Arizona was one of the youngest teams in the nation last year and every starter is back for 2018, while also adding another talented class. Senior oustide hitter Kendra Dahlke has been in the team's top two in kills per set the last two seasons, last year boasting the top kills and points per set average at over 3.0 in both categories. • Junior setter Julia Patterson earned the starting nod at setter and ranked in the top five in the Pac-12 in assists per set. In the summer, she was named to the U.S. Collegiate National Team China tour and that added experience should help her in 2018. • The roster is not short on options at middle blocker. Junior Devyn Cross led the team in blocks as a sophomore, as six different Wildcats collected at least 40 blocks on the season. Second on the team in blocks was now sophomore Candice Denny who spent time as part of the USA Volleyball program gaining valuable experience. • Last season's freshman class was a highly-touted group that experienced its ups and downs, but looks to turn things around. Another freshman class comes in this season to lift the Wildcats' prospects for an improved year, highlighted by Nevada's Gatorade Player of the Year Whittnee Nihipali. CONCERNS • The Wildcats faced its worst season since 2007 last year, despite high expecations. While the majority of the squad returns, it is still a very young squad. Consistency will still be a big factor with underclassmen making up the majority of the roster. • UA ranked near the bottom in every statistical category last year in the Pac-12. As a team, the Wildcats need improve- ment in nearly every area if they are to be competitive in league play and move up the standings. 2018 ARIZONA ROSTER