The University of Arizona volleyball team closed out the 2023-2024 season with an 8-23 (3-17 Pac-12) overall record. The Wildcats look ahead to improve and move forward this year in a new conference having recently joined the Big 12.
Arizona will be playing teams including BYU, Baylor University and the University of Kansas this season. The winners of the Big 12 volleyball title, the University of Texas at Austin, left for the Southeastern Conference.
The Wildcats will have a chance to open strong as they look to utilize new and returning players while dealing with tough Wildcat departures like outside hitter Sofia Maldonado Diaz.
The Wildcats have already gotten a chance to play, having competed against the University of Northern Colorado in an exhibition match on Aug. 24, which Arizona won 3-1. Despite the loss of some key players from last season like Diaz, Arizona quickly took off in the game, winning every set but the first (19-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-21).
The Wildcats have brought back returning players, including four starters from the 2023 season. Some of these players include Ana Heath, who led the 2023 season with 1,037 assists, fifth year Jaelyn Hodge who totaled 309 kills last season, Jordan Wilson and Alayna Johnson.
Arizona also welcomed freshman outside hitter Carlie Cisneros, who came in as the nation’s No. 1 recruit. Cisneros recorded seven kills and led Arizona with nine digs during the exhibition match against Northern Colorado. As the Wildcats come off a strong opening in their exhibition match, Arizona will be taking on some notable opponents by the time Big 12 play rolls around.
Season at a glance
Arizona will kick off the season hosting the Cactus Classic by welcoming Boise State University, Tennessee State University and Virginia Commonwealth University in McKale Center starting Friday, Aug. 30 and ending Sept. 1. The first match will be against Boise State when the Broncos face the Wildcats on Friday, Aug. 30, at 6 p.m. Arizona will then take on VCU at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31. Ending the Cactus Classic, Arizona will go against Tennessee State on Sunday, Sept. 1, at 12:30 p.m.
Arizona’s Big 12 play will begin when the Wildcats travel to meet Baylor on Sept. 25, after which Arizona will take another short trip to see TCU on Sept. 27.
The Wildcats have their first Big 12 conference home match on Oct. 2 against BYU and play the University of Utah on Oct. 4, both in McKale Center. Arizona will then head to Tempe, meeting ASU on Oct. 9, before hosting three home games against the University of Colorado Boulder on Oct. 16, the University of Houston on Oct. 18 and ASU on Oct. 24.
During the month of November, Arizona will play through the tail end of its conference schedule hosting both Kansas State University on Nov. 6 and Kansas on Nov. 8, playing in McKale Center. The Wildcats will then travel for three straight road games as they visit the University of Cincinnati on Nov. 14, West Virginia University on Nov. 17 and Colorado on Nov. 21.
Arizona will return to McKale Center to play its last two regular season home games. The Wildcats will play Iowa State University on Nov. 23 and the University of Central Florida on Nov. 27. The final Big 12 game of the regular season will have Arizona traveling to Lubbock, Texas, as the Wildcats take on Texas Tech University on Nov. 29.
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