The University of Arizona volleyball team (24-9, 9-9 in Big 12) took home the NIVC Championship with their 3-2 defeat of Bowling Green State University (27-29, 25-23, 18-25, 25-17, 15-9) on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. in McKale Center. This is the first championship for the program..
Jaelyn Hodge, who played her final game as a Wildcat, recorded a season-high 25 kills along with seven digs and four blocks. Jordan Wilson followed, putting up 18 kills and eight digs. Defensively, Journey Tucker led the Wildcats with eight blocks and Alayna Johnson put up five herself.
Set one
The Wildcats found a 10-5 lead after going on a 6-1 scoring run early in the first set. Arizona served its second ace of the set and extended the lead to 6 points. Despite the deficit, the Falcons found a way to respond, tying the game 20-20 with a kill by Alexis Mettille. Bowling Green hit its highest percentage in the match, .261 to take the 29-27 set win. Hodge led the set with 6 kills on a .417 hitting percentage, but it wasn’t enough for Arizona.
Set two
The Falcons opened the second set scoring the first 2 points, including an ace. Soon after, Arizona went on a 5-0 scoring run to lead 17-9 and the run ended on back-to-back aces scored by Avery Scoggins. Bowling Green continued to retaliate after a kill spiked by Mia Tyler that tied the game at 22. Ultimately, the Wildcats maintained their composure to take the second set 25-23, evening the match. Arizona was led by Hodge who spiked 8 kills and Wilson led second with 5 kills.
Set three
No time was wasted by Bowling Green in the beginning of the third set as the Falcons built a 5-1 lead, forcing an Arizona timeout. Carlie Cisneros served two consecutive aces to get the Wildcats within 1 point and putting the score at 10-9. However, the Falcons continued to apply pressure by using a 6-0 scoring run to stretch the lead 19-12. Arizona could not find a way to come back, resulting in Bowling Green winning the third set 25-18.
The Falcons held Arizona to a -.063 hitting percentage, its lowest in the match as a result of untimely errors. Wilson and Hodge both tallied 2 kills apiece while Johnson led the defense with two blocks.
Set four
In a tighter set, Arizona kept a slight advantage over Bowling Green to stay in the game. Wilson spiked a kill to capitalize a 3-0 scoring run that put Arizona ahead 12-9. Metille allowed the Falcons to narrow the 1-point lead after serving an ace. From then on, the Falcons only scored 4 points. Cisneros closed out the fourth set on an ace as the Wildcats won 25-17 to force a fifth and final set.
Arizona completed the set hitting a match-high .533. Wilson tallied 6 kills on a .857 hitting percentage and Hodge followed with 5 kills. Defensively, Tucker collected all three blocks Arizona recorded in the set.
Set five
The Wildcats began the fifth set on a 5-0 scoring run and soon after jumped to a 10-2 lead. The Falcons were stunned as they attempted to get back within the 11-7 score but ultimately fell to the Wildcats while hitting -0.05%. Hodge led her final set as an Arizona Wildcat, earning 4 kills, two blocks and an ace. Wilson contributed 2 kills and Tucker put up three blocks to complete the match.
Arizona took the fifth and final set 15-9, winning the NIVC Championship. The Wildcats finished the season with a 24-9 overall record and 9-9 conference record in their first year as members of the Big 12.
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