The University of Arizona volleyball team (12-3, 1-3 in Big 12) lost to the University of Utah on Friday, Oct. 4 in McKale Center, falling 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 27-25).
Despite the loss, Jaelyn Hodge led the Wildcats with 18 kills, finishing with a .400 hitting percentage. Carlie Cisneros followed Hodge, marking 7 kills and eight digs for the night.
Game recap
Utah claimed the first set, winning 25-13 and finishing with a .500 hitting percentage. 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, four of which came from Utah’s Grace Hammond.
Arizona’s scoring issues persisted but the Wildcats were defensively able to hold Utah to a .222 hitting percentage in the second set, Utah’s lowest of the match. Utah continued to provide aces however, giving them a lead advantage of 17-12 in the second set 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 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; the Utes pulled away on a 3-point scoring run to close the third and final set 27-25.
After the game, Hodge noted areas for improvement for the team.
“Getting back in the gym, working 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,” Hodge said.
Looking ahead
The Wildcats will travel to Tempe to take on the Arizona State University Sun Devils on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. in Desert Financial Arena
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