Postseason implications less than three weeks into the season?

UA head coach Dave Rubio saw them in the No. 21 Arizona volleyball team’s five-set loss to Rice in the final game of the Four Points Sheraton Wildcat Classic in McKale Center Saturday.

The Wildcats (7-2) fell 28-30, 30-22, 23-30, 30-17, 13-15 to the Owls (6-4) after sweeping Bradley (3-6) and Montana State (4-5) in their first two matches of the tournament.

“”In reality, that was a huge win for Rice, and maybe even made their season,”” Rubio said. “”It also may have ruined ours.””

“”We can’t afford to have a bad loss like that,”” he said later. “”Even though the season is really early, what you’re doing throughout the year is building your case to be invited as an at-large berth to the NCAA (Tournament). All that was is evidence that we don’t belong in the NCAAs.””

Although Arizona bettered Rice in every

statistical category, they were unable to take the match and, inevitably, a sweep of the tournament.

“”The players underestimated the team they were playing. They did not respect the team they were playing,”” Rubio said. “”You get what you deserve if you don’t respect the other team.””

The Wildcats had trouble building on their momentum throughout the weekend, as they struggled with hot and cold streaks.

After losing the first game against the Owls, Arizona scored the first seven points of the second, only to allow Rice a 9-0 run later in the match to pull within two.

The same thing happened the next game: Rice jumped out to a quick 6-1 lead, but Arizona was able to jump on top 8-7.

“”They are not demonstrating what they do in training when they play in games,”” Rubio said. “”The genuine effort that they give in practice does not show in games. It doesn’t make sense, but it is a sign of an immature team.””

The Wildcats were at a loss to explain why they couldn’t capitalize after dominating their first two matches of the tournament.

Arizona defeated Bradley 30-28, 30-24, 30-28 and Montana State 30-21, 30-21, 30-18 on Friday.

“”I don’t really know why that happens,”” said Whitney Dosty, a freshman outside hitter. “”I guess sometimes our communication would break down during the game.””

Junior middle blocker Dominique Lamb said: “”We were all on separate pages in different books. We were all playing for ourselves and not one another.””

Unlike last weekend’s road trip, which included a four-set upset of then-No. 12 Louisville, Rubio said he didn’t think there was anything positive the team showed in the tournament.

Along with the frustrating loss to finish the tournament, Arizona also took a big blow when it lost senior middle blocker Kristina Baum with an apparent leg injury. Her status is unknown until today, when the team will receive the results of the MRI, but Rubio said he did not think the injury was serious.

Spikes
Lamb, Dosty and sophomore outside hitter Brooke Buringrud were named to the All-Tournament team. Lamb has been named to the All-Tournament team in all three of Arizona’s tournaments this year, and Dosty and Buringrud having been named to two of them.