Arizona volleyball earned a victory over rival ASU on their turf. The team remained focused heading into the first game of Pac-12 play with a .237 hitting percentage. The heated match resulted in five sets with scores of 23-25, 25-16, 25-17, 21-25 and 15-9.

Set 1 – (23-25)

Arizona volleyball’s Puk Stubbe came up quick and scored a kill to kick off the first set. Jaelyn Hodge and Sofia Maldonado Diaz came up with back-to-back kills to keep the lead both assisted by Emery Hermon. Hodge and Maldonado Diaz cleared three kills each. The Sun Devils brought a fierce defense to the Wildcats winning the first set.

Set 2 – (25-16)

The Wildcats bounced back in the second set against the Sun Devils with a nine-point lead. Sofia Maldonado Diaz made it her mission to be on top with three kills, three assists and one ace. Emery Herman and Puk Stubbe supported themselves with back-to-back kills assisted by each other. Herman and Stubbe each scored another kill to tie the second set.

Set 3 – (25-17)

In a fast-paced third set, the Wildcats took the lead (2-1) and put defense forefront. Puk Stubbe bravely made three blocks. Merle Weidt scored two kills and Emery Herman bagged a block to win the set. The Wildcats had no mercy on ASU leaving them with zero hitting percentage.

Set 4 – (21-25)

Arizona State trailed the Wildcats in the fourth set to tie the game. Stubbe established dominance in the set with a kill assisted by Herman. The Sun Devils took the upper hand but the Wildcats tied at 10-10 and responded with a block and kill by Jaelyn Hodge. ASU won the set and the teams headed into the awaited fifth set at 2-2.

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Set 5 – (15-9)

After a rough start, the Wildcats recovered with four back-to-back kills to set the tone of the final set. Jaelyn Hodge made five kills all assisted by Emery Herman. Stubbe cleared four kills. Maldonado Diaz and Weidt each made one block. The Arizona volleyball team won 3-2 in the 5-set match.

The Wildcats head back to McKale Center with a graceful win against ASU. The team is now 9-3 and will host Oregon State University on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, at 12 p.m MST.

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