The University of Arizona volleyball team (12-5, 1-5 in Big 12) fell 3-2 (15-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-27, 18-16) against the University of Colorado, Boulder on Wednesday, Oct. 16 in McKale Center. The Wildcats have now marked their third loss in a row and fifth loss in conference play.
The game took place on Pink Out night where the Wildcats spread breast cancer awareness for the month of October. The court lining was a shade of pink and so were the bows in the athletes’ hair. ZonaZoo came with their spirit as well, wearing pink clothing and wigs.
Three Wildcats ended the night achieving a double-double, including Carlie Cisneros who led the team with 19 kills and 11 digs. Jaelyn Hodge followed closely, putting up 17 kills and 13 digs while Jordan Wilson finished the game with 16 kills and 11 digs.
Set 1
Arizona opened the first set earning the first 2 points of the game but Colorado shortly followed with an ace serve. Arizona kept space between themselves and the Buffaloes, holding a steady and Avery Scoggins was able to get a tip over the net to finish the set, allowing Arizona to win the set 25-15. Cisneros and Wilson led the set with 4 kills apiece and Cisneros achieved a .571 hitting percentage. Additionally, Arizona tallied six blocks in the set and the Wildcats finished the set with a .333 hitting percentage and held the Buffaloes to a -.037 hitting percentage.
Set 2
Colorado continued to match points with Arizona and the two teams went back-and-forth until the Buffaloes started to pull ahead, going on a 5-point scoring run to lead Arizona 12-8 in set two. Ana Burilović served back-to-back aces for Colorado to gain the 20-14 lead. The Wildcats began to crawl back, shortening the lead to 22-16 after Wilson served an ace of her own. The Buffaloes tied the match 1-1 after winning the second set 25-17. Cisneros led the set with 3 kills as Arizona was held to its lowest hitting percentage in the match, .059.
Set 3
Arizona trailed most of the way in set three due to untimely errors and mistakes, despite Wilson leading the set for the Wildcats with 4 kills. Colorado’s defense responded to Arizona’s attempt to come back, putting pressure on the Wildcat offense. Arizona tried to combat the 23-21 lead after a defensive mistake by Colorado, forcing a timeout. Ultimately, Colorado won the third set 25-21, taking a 2-1 lead over Arizona in the match.
Set 4
Arizona retaliated in the fourth set, coming out with a powerful 4-0 start and continued to hold on to the lead throughout most of the set. The Wildcats kept their distance with the growing 18-11 lead as their defense marked four blocks against Colorado. The Buffs not only made a comeback but found a way to take a 21-20 lead in the fourth set. It did not take long for Arizona to reclaim the lead, however, as a kill by Cisneros brought the score to 23-21. Arizona found a way to force a fifth and final set after winning the fourth set 27-25.
Cisneros led the set with 6 kills as Hodge marked 5 kills of her own. The Wildcats finished with their highest hitting percentage in the match, .368.
Set 5
The Wildcats went on a brief 3-point scoring run in the beginning of the fifth set due to an ace served by Hodge and a kill by Wilson. Scoggins served an ace not too long after to lift Arizona by 3 points, leading 10-7. Despite the Wildcats constantly scoring, Colorado’s defense got three blocks as the Buffs got back in the game and would ultimately win the set 18-16. Hodge led the final set with 5 kills as Cisneros tallied 4 kills.
“We do tend to struggle with being a little bit of a roller coaster with how we’re playing or not. I think the moment that we start to get consistent, having a strong start, strong middle and strong finish I think we’ll be good,” Wilson said. “The up and down I think is what really kind of gets us.”
Looking ahead
Arizona will remain at home as the Wildcats wait to take on the University of Houston Friday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. in McKale Center.
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