The University of Arizona volleyball team (24-9, 9-9 in Big 12) took home the NIVC Championship the Wildcats beat Bowling Green State University 3-2 (29-27, 25-23, 25-18, 25-17, 15-9) on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. in McKale Center. This is the first championship for the program as Arizona came back 2-1 to secure the victory.
Jaelyn Hodge, who played her final game as a Wildcat, recorded a season-high 25 kills along with 7 digs and four blocks. Jordan Wilson followed, putting up 18 kills and 8 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 as the run ended on back-to-back aces spiked 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 of the 10-9 score. 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 comeback, 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. Alexis Metille allows 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 went on to win 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 percent. Hodge led her final set as an Arizona Wildcat hitting 4 kills, two blocks and an ace. Wilson contributed 2 kills and Tucker put up three blocks to complete the match.
Arizona won the fifth and final set 15-9 to go on and win the NIVC Championship for the program. The Wildcats finish the season with a 24-9 overall record and 9-9 record in their year as members of the Big 12.
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