The Arizona volleyball team won two of three matches for the second straight weekend, this time in the Asics Classic held Friday and Saturday in Malibu, Calif.
The Wildcats (4-2) defeated Nevada and Lipscomb, and were swept by tournament host Pepperdine.
The Waves (4-2) defeated Arizona by scores of 30-18, 30-27 and 30-25 in the Firestone Fieldhouse.
“”I was disappointed that we lost against Pepperdine,”” said UA head coach Dave Rubio. “”That being said, I felt like Pepperdine really played very efficiently, from serving the ball to passing the ball.””
The Wildcats were held to a .108 hitting percentage, while the Waves hit .242.
Pepperdine outmatched the Wildcats from the get-go, as it raced to a 12-3 lead in the first game. Arizona went on a 7-1 run, but was ultimately undone while hitting -.026.
“”It was a challenge,”” Rubio said. “”We knew that Pepperdine was a (Pacific 10 Conference)-level team. They are a team that I think can compete at the Elite Eight level.””
Opposite hitter Randy Goodenough led Arizona with a team-high 10 kills and eight digs. Freshman Paige Weber posted 27 assists.
Weber and Goodenough were named to the All-Tournament team, after receiving similar accolades in the Sheraton Four Points Wildcat Classic last weekend.
“”Paige has been really steady for us, but it’s always a team effort,”” Rubio said.
Arizona swept Nevada (2-2) by scores of 34-32, 30-21 and 30-25.
The Wildcats posted a season-high .295 hitting percentage while limiting their opponents to .123 behind 16 blocks.
Goodenough had 12 kills and eight digs. She was helped offensively by middle blockers Dominique Lamb and Jacy Norton, who had 10 and nine kills, respectively.
Arizona opened the tournament by downing Lipscomb (1-4) in four games, 30-27, 30-20, 23-30 and 30-24.
Though the Wildcats hit only .128, they held the Lady Bison to a .102 hitting percentage. Goodenough registered 15 kills and 14 digs, while Weber finished with 40 assists, nine digs and a match-high three service aces.
Freshman Tiffany Owens had 13 kills from the right side, despite a stress fracture in her shin.
“”The reality is that that’s not going to go away,”” Rubio said of the injury. “”In the Pepperdine match, she struggled some, but she’s not to blame for the loss. It was a team effort.””
