The University of Arizona volleyball team (12-3, 1-3 in Big 12) lost to the University of Utah, falling 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 27-25) on Friday, Oct. 4, in McKale Center.
Despite the loss, Jaelyn Hodge led the Wildcats with 18 kills, finishing with a .400 hitting percentage. Carlie Cisneros followed Hodge, marking 7 kills for the night and led the team with 8 digs.
Game recap
Utah claimed set one, winning 25-13 and finished with a .500 hitting percentage to beat Arizona. Arizona’s Kiari Robey and Hodge each put up an ace during the set. Utah pulled away in the end of the set, winning 25-13 after serving 5 aces, 4 of which came from Utah’s Grace Hammond.
Arizona’s scoring issues persisted but defensively, was able to hold Utah to a .222 hitting percentage, Utah’s lowest of the match. Utah continued to provide aces however, giving them a lead advantage of 17-12 after a 6 point scoring run. Despite Arizona’s efforts to come back, the Utes took a 2-0 lead in the matchup after winning the second set 25-23. Hodge led the Wildcats with 7 kills in the set.
Utah did not slow down on scoring, opening the third set with a 7-3 score lead. Arizona tried to hang on, gradually gaining on the lead as Haven Wray served an ace that tied the score 20-20. Hodge led the Wildcats with 9 kills in the final set. However, it would not be enough as the Utes pulled away on a 3 point scoring run to close the third and final set 27-25.
“Getting back in the gym, work on our serve receives and serving. They run a really fast offense so I think blocking their offense. [We] just need serve receive and blocking days.” said Hodge.
Looking ahead
The Wildcats will travel to play against their in-state rivals ASU to take on the Sun Devils on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. in Desert Financial Arena in Tempe.
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