The University of Arizona volleyball team (11-8, 5-4 in Big 12) lost 3-1 in a four set match against No. 6 ASU on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. in McKale Center. The Wildcats (25-18, 22-25, 25-16, 25-16) marked their second consecutive loss with this defeat.
Senior outside hitter Jordan Wilson led Arizona with 19 kills on a .343 clip. Sophomore outside hitter Carlie Cisneros followed with 9 kills.
Set 1
ASU outside hitter Bailey Miller started off the scoring for the Sun Devils, sparking a 4-0 scoring run. Wilson recorded the first point for the Wildcats, getting Arizona on the board. Arizona answered back with a scoring run of its own, tying the game at 4.
Cisneros allowed the Wildcats to get in front after scoring a kill of her own. ASU slowly came back, after outside hitter Tatum Parrott cut Arizona’s advantage to just 1 point. After a block assist by the Sun Devils, the game was tied at 8.
Miller put ASU ahead 13-10 after scoring a kill. Shortly after, the Sun Devils’ lead swelled to 17-12 as ASU junior Noemie Glover put up a kill, prompting an Arizona timeout. The Wildcats continued to respond to ASU as Wilson put up 3 kills in a row, but Arizona continued to trail by 5 late in the first set.
Parrott put up an ace for ASU, extending its advantage to 23-16. The Sun Devils claimed the first set 25-18 after Miller recorded a kill to secure the set win. Wilson led the first set with 7 kills, securing a .429 hitting percentage.
Set 2
Arizona freshman Renee Jones started off the scoring for the second set. The Sun Devils answered back as junior outside hitter Jillian Neal capped off a 3-0 scoring run with an ace. Soon after, Arizona clawed back as Cisneros put up an ace of her own, tying the set at 3. With points being traded back-and-forth, the Wildcats found a 3-point advantage after sophomore middle blocker Adrianna Bridges recorded an ace, putting Arizona up 10-7.
The Wildcats continued to build its lead as sophomore libero Brenna Ginder scored an ace to further advance Arizona 15-11. The Sun Devils closed the gap Arizona built with a 3-0 scoring run sparked by Bridges, making the score 17-16. Soon after the Wildcats came out of a break, Arizona continued to put pressure on the Sun Devils, going up 22-18 when Cisneros spiked a kill.
Ultimately, ASU couldn’t find a full comeback as the Wildcats claimed the second set, 25-22.
Set 3
Miller was first to put ASU on the board. Cisneros leveled out the score 2-2 after recording an ace. Parrott opened up a 3-point lead for the Sun Devils after ASU went up 8-5 before subbing in redshirt sophomore Brynn Covell and redshirt freshman Kiylah Presley. The Sun Devils continued to separate themselves, leading 14-10 as Miller scored an ace.
Despite the Wildcats’ attempts to find an answer, ASU tapped into another scoring run, separating itself 20-12 in the third set. Arizona continued to put up kills as players like Wilson, Avery Scoggins and Journey Tucker all contributed, but it wasn’t enough. The Sun Devils went on to secure the third set, 25-16, claiming a 2-1 set lead.
Set 4
Junior middle blocker Ella Lomigora put up the Sun Devils’ first kill of the fourth set but was directly answered with a kill from Tucker. Early in the set, ASU found a 4-0 scoring run, building a 6-2 advantage over Arizona. Despite the Wildcats recording kills and ASU committing attack errors, Arizona continued to trail 10-7 as Miller forced a kill.
ASU capitalized on its advantage as the lead grew to 17-10 after a 4-0 scoring run. Despite the large deficit, the Wildcats continued to score but it wasn’t enough.
The Sun Devils took the fourth and final set 25-16, earning a 3-1 victory.
Looking ahead
Arizona looks to head on the road to Lubbock, Texas, as the Wildcats prepare themselves for a matchup against Texas Tech University on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 4 p.m. in United Supermarkets Arena. The game will also be streamed on ESPN+.
