The Arizona volleyball team looked to bounce back after their loss against USC on Friday, but couldn’t manage to do so as UCLA took the victory against the Wildcats in straight sets Sunday afternoon.
The Wildcats fought well in the first set but couldn’t pull it out as they lost 22-25. Then they couldn’t find any momentum in the 14-25 loss for the second set. UCLA sent the Wildcats packing as they took the third set and match after a grueling 24-26 victory.
Set 1 (22-25)
UCLA and Arizona kept it neck and neck until the 17 point mark, but a service error by sophomore outside hitter Jaelyn Hodge killed any momentum the Wildcats had at that point. UCLA took the set 25-22. Hodge finished the set with six kills and sophomore outside hitter Sofia Maldonado Diaz had two.
Set 2 (14-25)
The Wildcats couldn’t manage to keep up with the Bruins as UCLA took this set 25-14. Eight of the 14 points the Wildcats scored were off errors from UCLA, so the Wildcats earned six points in the 14 they got. Maldonado Diaz put up three kills, Hodge had two and senior middle blocker Zyonna Fellows had one kill.
Set 3 (24-26)
The third and final set of the match was the most interesting because both teams were on each other’s tails throughout the set. The Wildcats managed to reach set point first 24-21, but the Bruins didn’t give up as they went on a five-point run to take the set away from the Wildcats to win the set and match 26-24. Hodge finished the set with six kills, freshman opposite Puk Stubbe with five and Maldonado Diaz with three kills and a service ace.
Hodge finished with 14 kills for the match. Maldonado Diaz had eight kills and an ace. Stubbe recorded six kills for the match as well.
The Wildcats look to finish on a winning note as they play their last two matches of the season. The Wildcats on Nov. 23, travel to Eugene to play against the University of Oregon at 7:00 p.m. Then the Wildcats’ last game of the season is against ASU on Nov. 27, at 12:00 p.m. in McKale Center.
Follow Sam Gillman on Twitter
