As Arizona hosts its final tournament of the season, Texas State University, Pepperdine University and New Mexico State University will make the trip to the Old Pueblo to take part in the Arizona Invitational by Lodge on the Desert over the weekend.

With No. 1 Stanford and the rest of the Pacific 10 Conference schedule looming next weekend, this will be the final tune-up that the Wildcats have before embarking into conference play.

“”We have one more preseason tournament, which we’re all really excited about,”” said senior Paige Weber. “”We’re excited to start conference play, but at the same time it’s nice to have another chance to play and get some good game practice.

We definitely cannot overlook this weekend. There are three good teams that are coming in here and they want nothing more than to beat us on our home court.””

Head coach Dave Rubio echoed Weber’s sentiment about getting better for conference play — although he expects his team to be tested by competition this weekend.

“”This week is a big week — we’re playing some very good teams,”” said Rubio. “”Pepperdine is very good, very physical. New Mexico State is very big and physical, so it’s another opportunity for us to hopefully rise to the occasion and play a little bit better.””

Youth and inexperience have contributed to both of Arizona’s losses thus far in the 2010 campaign, but Weber remains excited with how far the newcomers have come.

“”All of our new kids — freshmen and transfers — are really doing a great job for the team. It’s really exciting when you have a team that is well balanced, and they add a lot of balance to the team,”” she said. “”It’s definitely showing in the games, and it’s really nice to have them step up right away.””

This will also be UA’s last chance to develop some consistency, which Rubio says has also been a key contributor to the Wildcat’s early losses.

“”We’re suffering a little bit of not being in-sync as much as maybe we should be. The game is so unforgiving and there are so many momentum changes that can go either way,”” said Rubio. “”Every week … we’re going to get a little better, and hopefully our consistency level will get better along with that.””

Entering the last weekend of non-conference play, the Wildcats are sitting at 7-2. Arizona is hitting at a .272 clip, and committing over 25 errors per match, both numbers that Rubio would like to see improve.

The Wildcats will open the tournament Friday at 12:30 p.m. against Texas State, and then host Pepperdine at 7 p.m. The tournament will wrap up with UA hosting New Mexico State at 12:30 on Saturday.