There is not just one reason why the Arizona volleyball team is winning this season.
Some of it is athletes understanding more about the system that the Wildcats’ second-year coach Rita Stubbs has implemented.
Some of it is Stubbs adding the right assistants, a top-rated freshman class and strong transfers.
Arizona coach Charita Stubbs was just 8-23 in her first year with the Wildcats, but is already 10-0 this season.
It’s also because of some new tactics and strategy.
But most of it comes down to something simple: just really wanting to win.
“I feel like we’re angry, but in a positive direction; we’re very motivated; we’re driven,” Ava Tortorello said at the Bump, Set and Spike event at the Sands Club on Tuesday night.
Arizona libero/defensive specialist Giorgia Mandotti, right, comes in to congratulate outside hitter Jordan Wilson (5) on her kill in the third set against North Dakota State on Thursday. UA will look to start 11-0 when it hosts Southern Utah on Saturday in the Wildcat Classic.
“I didn’t come to Arizona to not make it to the tournament, and I told the girls that. … I think we’re all very motivated and driven, and that’s what makes our team culture so good. This year is different than any other year that I’ve been here, and it’s really exciting. We’re all definitely hungry for more.”
Tortorello, who was sporting a boot on her left leg on Tuesday night said it was an injury to her foot and she hoped to be back on the court soon, has played a part in this program’s turnaround. The team has already won more matches than did all last season, when it went just 8-23.
Wildcat Ava Tortorello handles a spike during the intrasquad scrimmage in August. “She will eat your heart out, and she wants to win,” coach Rita Stubbs said.
The Wildcats, who are averaging more than 1,800 fans per match this season, are a perfect 10-0 after beating North Dakota State on Thursday night (25-19, 25-20, 25-22) at the Wildcat Classic. They play Southern Utah on Saturday at noon at McKale Center, in the final nonconference contest of the season. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Saturday will feature pre-match activities for kids and afterward, there will be a youth clinic for players in sixth grade and younger.
Arizona’s 10-0 start is its best in 15 years. In 2009, it began 12-0, including winning the Pac-10 season opener over then-No. 13 USC. The Wildcats were ranked No. 19 at the time.
Arizona middle blocker Kari Robey finds the space between North Dakota State outside hitter Lauren Jansen left, and middle blocker Arianna Blohm during UA’s 3-0 win Thursday night.
This year’s team isn’t receiving any votes yet in the Top 25 poll, but a strong start to Big 12 conference play could push the Wildcats up the rankings after they were just 3-17 in Pac-12 play last year. This season’s team is 4-0 at McKale and 6-0 on the road, including beating Alabama and New Mexico State away from Tucson.
Stubbs said that being hungry and being more competitive as a unit really started to show this summer. Typically, the athletes would come back to Tucson for pre-season training a few days before camp starts. This year, every single Wildcat was here in July – some were even in town by the end of June.
“They were hungry, dedicated,” Stubbs said. “We had a group of upperclassmen that said, ‘You guys, let’s go,’ That group of freshmen only know(s) to come into gym and work hard. That made life so much easier, that you have that leadership.”
Tortorello is one of those upperclassmen. She is a senior who has seen nearly everything — except playing in an NCAA Tournament during her time as a Wildcat — and is now viewing things from a new position this season, as a defensive specialist/libero or little. The former setter switched roles as it brought her more opportunity to get on the court. She said that now she’s been “competitive” in a different way.
Arizona outside hitter Jordan Wilson tries to get an elbow to a ball off the net in the second set against North Dakota State on Thursday. UA won 3-0.
It wasn’t an easy adjustment after years of focusing on another position. Especially, as setter is in her genes; it’s the same position played by multiple members of her family — her mom Elizabeth Tortorello-Nelson at Wisconsin, and two aunts, one at Penn State and the another at Boston College. She added that “at Christmas, it’s all college volleyball talk.”
“My mom has been amazing throughout this all, because she set at Wisconsin, and so obviously I had some pretty big shoes to fill,” Tortorello said. “Switching from setting to a ds (defensive specialist) was hard on me, because I was like, ‘Oh, I want to be like my mom.’”
Stubbs said that what makes Tortorello a good fit for one of her four liberos this season is that she is a “true competitor.”
“She will eat your heart out, and she wants to win,” Stubbs said. “She’s smiling up here (at the Sands Club). She has this boot on her foot, and she wants to play. She knows that she can get after and do it. And as a result, she’s ... very valuable.
“I don’t know that she would actually say this, but she actually was the libero all last spring. She was competing and going at it. And the reason why she did so well at it is because she just listened to what we asked her to do. She had no hidden agenda. Sometimes, when you have a little bit of knowledge, you hold yourself back.”
Arizona middle blocker Kari Robey, right, absorbs a North Dakota State spike while defending the net with teammate Sydnie Vanek.
Never stop evolving
Stubbs keeps adding to her strategies and tactics as she goes to help everyone, including herself, grow.
These changes have come in different forms, from breaking down the season into five sets — from training, preseason, first half of conference play, second half of conference play and NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats haven’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2018.
Stubbs also divided up responsibilities for her assistants. Now, Ryan Windisch, plan practices and Steven Duhoux, who focuses on offense, also is the point person on film.
By doing this, what Stubbs called “giving power away” enables her to be more open to sharing and receiving help from others. It also means that hers isn’t the only voice her athletes are hearing every day — which means they are more receptive and more likely to listen to all coaches on staff.
Another big area of change comes in the area of performance, measuring exertion and jump loads, among other things. Stubbs wanted to understand how hard they were working in practices compared to matches because, as she said, “The theory is, (if) you work harder in practice, the match becomes easier.”
Arizona outside hitter Carlie Cisneros plays a North Dakota State serve during Thursday's match at McKale Center.
Long, tough trip
The Wildcats start Big 12 play Wednesday at No. 22-ranked Baylor. On Friday, they will play at No. 23 TCU. They will be on the road from Tuesday through Saturday. This will be a new road trip experience as in the Pac-12, the Wildcats played on Friday and Sunday and would typically leave the day before — missing only a few days of classes. Now, missing up to four days of school could be the norm. To get ahead of this, the Wildcats and Stubbs are working closely with their academic counselor and will have study hall on their trips.
A balanced conference
Big 12 teams ranked in the most recent AVCA poll are Kansas (No. 10), Arizona State (No. 14), BYU (No. 19), Baylor and TCU. Houston is also receiving votes.
The Roadrunners' 36 home games at Tucson Arena for the upcoming season.
