Arizona volleyball defeats No. 16 Baylor in fifth conference game

Ava Widener

October 11, 2025

University of Arizona volleyball player Jordan Wilson hits the ball in McKale Center on Nov. 23. The Wildcat’s won against Iowa State University 3-1.

The University of Arizona volleyball team (9-6, 3-2 in Big 12) won 3-0 (25-21, 32-30, 25-23) against Baylor University on Friday, Oct. 10, at 6 p.m. in McKale Center. The Arizona Wildcats are 3-2 in their conference games this season after this clean sweep against Baylor.

Senior outside hitter Jordan Wilson had the most kills, totaling 19 along with nine digs. Sophomore Carlie Cisernos made vital kills at the end of the second set which led Arizona to take the win; Cisneros made 12 total kills during this match.

Defensively, Arizona was protected by middle blocker Journey Tucker and Ana Heath, who had six blocks apiece.

Set 1

Arizona got the first points on the board after a kill from Wilson, assisted by Avery Scoggins to put the Wildcats ahead 3-1. An attack that went wide from Heath tied up the set at 5, but a kill by Wilson and an ace from Haven Wray brought the Wildcats back ahead 7-5 of the Bears.

Adrianna Bridges served another ace which kept the set close at 11. A long rally was ended by a spike over the net from Heath. Wray served her second ace of the set 19-17 which led Baylor to take its first timeout. Scoggins served an ace for set point leading the Wildcats to take the first set 25-21.

Set 2

Beginning the second set, Baylor went on a 3-0 scoring run, followed by Arizona matching with a run of its own. A kill from Wilson tied the set at 5.

After a kill from Baylor’s MJ McCurdy, the Bears went on a 5-0 scoring run which pulled them ahead of the Wildcats. Cisneros got a kill right down the middle ending Baylor’s scoring run. Giorgia Mandotti served an ace which shortened Baylor’s lead 11-8. An intense, long rally ended with an Arizona kill by Heath.

Though the Wildcats were behind for a majority of the set, Arizona tied up the set at 19 with a kill from Cisneros. A kill from Baylor’s McCurdy broke Arizona’s set point 25-25. This continued as possession traded between the Bears and the Wildcats until a kill from Tucker gave the Wildcats the final set point 31-30.

After going back-and-forth Wilson’s kill gained Arizona a 2-0 set lead for the Wildcats, winning 32-30.

Set 3

Baylor’s Ksenia Rakhmanchik got the first kill on the board in the third and final set, which was followed by a 3-0 scoring run for the Bears. The Bears continued to pull ahead, but Heath’s roof followed by a block got the Wildcats back on track 10-9. Tucker’s second block of the set gave Arizona a 3-point lead on Baylor.

An illegal attack was called against Baylor that ended a long rally, giving the point to Arizona 16-13. Arizona’s attack from Wilson went into the net which brought Baylor ahead of the Wildcats 19-18.

Cisneros’s block gave Arizona a point advantage over the Bears. A tip over the net by Cisneros followed by a roof from Tucker gave the Wildcats set point. Ultimately, the Wildcats won the third set 25-23 to take the match, allowing Arizona to get back in the win column.

“You know, we really prepared for this game. We were really focusing on drills, on knowing how to stay cool, calm and collected, knowing how to capitalize on ending when we hit 20 [points], and also just being consistent throughout,” said Arizona outside hitter Jordan Wilson.