CSUN University News Clippings

Coach Dave Rubio is returning to his old haunts.

Rubio and his Arizona Wildcats volleyball team return to his former school for the Cal State Bakersfield Invitational starting today.

Before coming to the UA in 1992, Rubio coached the Roadrunners to a 120-65 record from 1987 to 1991 when they were a Division II program. He led CSUB to a national title in 1989.

The tournament marks the first time the Wildcats will play at CSUB during the regular season since Rubio left. (Arizona has played in exhibition spring tournaments there in the past.)

Rubio reflected on his tenure at CSUB, its transition to Division I and how the sport has changed. Arizona plays Chicago State today and Fresno State and the Roadrunners on Saturday.

● Scouting the opponent: CSUB discussed going Division I during Rubio’s tenure in the late 1980s, he said, but didn’t complete the move.

“I probably would have at least considered staying if they had gone Division I,” he said. “At the time, we were considered one of the top programs in Division II and there wasn’t that much competition in D-II. So, I was looking forward to playing at a higher level and seeing what it was like to see if I could hang with those guys. That’s one of the reasons why I decided to move (to Arizona).”

CSUB is currently in its second full season in Division I. Rubio said the main difference between divisions is scholarships — Division II teams receive four fewer.

The Roadrunners (3-5) are coming off a 3-1 loss to No. 19 Kansas State. Rubio’s friend and former teammate at Cal State Northridge, John Price, coaches CSUB.

“They’re not going to be able to match up at the net, but the serving and passing really levels the playing field,” Rubio said.

● How the game has changed: Since Rubio’s tenure at CSUB, recruiting has become more challenging because players receive more exposure in clubs during high school. The scoring system has also changed from 15 points and “side-out” in games to 30 points in a game to the current 25 points in a set. These days teams score on opponent’s errors, increasing the value of players who make few mistakes, Rubio said.

At CSUB, Rubio found unheralded players and developed them.

“Now it’s hard to find a hidden kid,” Rubio said. “Back then there were a lot of kids who were playing that people just didn’t know about. Now all those really good athletes are playing in clubs for 3-4 years.”

The bottom portion of the Pac-10 — the Oregon schools, Washington State and Arizona State — has also become stronger in the last few years, he said. Currently, six of the league’s schools are ranked in the top 12.

● A closer look at Arizona: The Wildcats still have six matches before opening Pac-10 play against Washington State on Sept. 26. Rubio will tweak the lineup. Senior outside hitter Brooke Buringrud will start instead of freshman Courtney Karst, and Tucson native Whitney Dosty will move to opposite hitter.

“We’re going to have to go with a lower-error type of team and develop the kids in practice,” Rubio said.

Sept. 12, 2008