The University of Arizona volleyball team (14-9, 3-9 in Big 12) made its way back into the win column after securing a 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 27-29, 25-20, 15-13) victory against the No. 8 University of Kansas on Friday, Nov. 8 in McKale Center. The Wildcats broke their four-game losing streak with this win. 

Three Wildcats finished the night with double-doubles including Jordan Wilson who had a career-night, putting up 37 kills on a .465 hitting percentage to lead Arizona. Jaelyn Hodge followed, finishing with 18 kills and 14 digs, and Carlie Cisneros earned 15 kills and 16 digs. Cisneros also led the defense with Journey Tucker as both players put up four blocks apiece. 

“It’s just a matter of putting all of our talent together and winning games together and tonight we won together,” Cisneros said. “Every single person had a job and did their job […], we have that trust where we know that we can always rely on one another and we were all able to step up tonight for each other.”

Set 1

Arizona began scoring to find an early 6-2 lead in the opening set. Kansas responded with an ace, shortening the lead to 14-13. Soon after, the Jayhawks went on a 4-point scoring run to pull ahead but Arizona came back with a 5-point scoring run of their own to come back 21-18. The Wildcats went on to win the first set 25-22. 

Wilson led the set with 5 kills and 4 digs. Hodge followed with 4 kills in the first set. The Wildcats held the Jayhawks to their lowest hitting percentage in the match, .119. 

Set 2

Kansas served an ace in the beginning of the second set, scoring the Jayhawks’ first of four aces in the second set. Arizona, however, went on a 7-point scoring run shortly after to gain back the lead. Kansas later initiated a 5-point scoring run of its own, including back-to-back aces by Camryn Turner to take control of the lead 20-19. 

The Jayhawks closed the set scoring the last 4 points to take over and win 25-21, evening out the match 1-1. Wilson finished with 7 kills in the second set and achieved a .500 hitting percentage to lead Arizona. 

Set 3

In a back-and-forth set featuring 12 ties, Arizona surged ahead 10-7 until Kansas went on a 3-point scoring run to make a 13-11 comeback. Arizona finished the set with three blocks but couldn’t hold Kansas. Ultimately, Kansas won 29-27 to take a 2-1 match lead over the Wildcats. 

The Jayhawks hit .340 in the third set, the team’s highest of the game. Wilson dominated the set with 11 kills to lead Arizona. Cisneros and Hodge tallied 4 kills apiece but the Wildcats fell short. 

Set 4

Kansas continued to put pressure on Arizona offensively, going on a 3-point scoring run to take a 12-9 lead. The Wildcats responded, scoring the next 4 points to take a 13-12 lead and force a Kansas timeout. The Wildcats held the lead throughout the remainder of the set. Arizona forced  a fifth set after pulling ahead 25-20 to tie the match 2-2. 

The Wildcats hit the highest percentage of the match, .439, and were led by Wilson who tallied 10 kills on a .625 hitting percentage. Cisneros led second in the set, putting up 5 kills. 

Set 5

The Wildcats controlled the fifth and final set, never giving Kansas the chance to lead. Haven Wray served an ace to secure a 10-7 lead, prompting Kansas to take a timeout. The Jayhawks served an ace trying to survive throughout three different match points, but it wasn’t enough for Kansas. 

Wilson spiked the final kill and her 37th of the night to help Arizona win 15-13 in the final set. Wilson led the set with 4 kills and Hodge followed closely, putting up 3 kills. 

“The whole team was pretty tired of losing […] we wanted to go in and start grinding and working hard knowing that we can still come back and we can still prove ourselves to everyone and show them what Arizona is about,” Wilson said.

Looking ahead

Arizona will be heading on the road to face the University of Cincinnati on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 4 p.m. in Fifth Third Arena.

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