(Tucson, AZ)
Wildcats Volleyball Coach Dave Rubio earned his 500th victory that puts him in very select company with Mike Candrea, Lute Olson, Frank Sancet, Jerry Kindall and Fred Enke.
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It was appropriate that Rubio reached his milestone in the confines of McKale Center. The Cats could have set the mark in Las Cruces, NM, but fell to the Aggies of New Mexico State breaking their six game winning streak.
Excitement was in the air going into the weekend, crowd buzzing, the smell of popcorn and fans waiting to witness history as Arizona needed just two wins to give Rubio his 500th victory.
Tennessee – Martin would be the first test. The Wildcats won a back and forth first game 25-19. In game two, the Skyhawks had no chance as Arizona ran away in a 25-14 win.
Wanting to redeem themselves, UT-Martin came out with aggressiveness not seen in the first two games. Zona found themselves down 8-17.
Paige Whipple
Clawing back in true Wildcat fashion, Kendra Dahlke, Paige Whipple and Julia Patterson dug down deep and led Arizona on a 14-2 run. The game went into extra points but the Cats finally previaled 29-27. Win 499 was in the bag.
How ironic that the New Mexico State Aggies would be the next opponent to play the Cats having just foiled their attempt at the milestone a few days past.
Arizona eager to start strong went up 4-0 and cruised to the first set win 25-18. One down and two to go. Several key blocks aided the strong effort.
With Dave Rubio’s brother Keith Rubio on the other bench an Assistant Coach for NMSU, this became a family affair.
Game Two had the Aggies with the advantage, and as with last week’s games, Zona didn’t want to fall prey to another comeback. Trailing late 25-18, it looked like dejavú.
Kendra Dahlke
Senior Dahlke wasn’t going to let this one slip away. Block after block, dig after dig she kept the game from ending at twenty five as the Wildcats went on another one of their patented late runs 26-24.
Game, Set, Match and History for one of the most respected coaches nationally.
After the win, Rubio said he was happy and to reach 500 wins against his brother and friend Coach Mike Jordan of New Mexico State.
Congratulations Coach Rubio, a job well done!
photos of Whipple and Dahlke courtesy of Arizona Athletics
