The University of Arizona volleyball team (18-9, 7-9 in Big 12) secured a 3-1 (25-13, 25-23, 25-22, 25-18) victory over Iowa State University on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. in McKale Center. The Wildcats were able to extend their winning streak to five games on senior day.
Jordan Wilson finished the night with a double-double, putting up 15 kills, 10 digs and four blocks to lead the Wildcats. Jaelyn Hodge led second, tallying 14 kills and 9 digs including the game-winning kill. Additionally, Alayna Johnson tallied six blocks to lead the Wildcats defense.
Set 1
Arizona began the first set on a 5-1 scoring run, including an ace served by Hodge to build an early 9-4 lead over Iowa State. The Wildcats used multiple scoring runs to keep Iowa State from scoring. The Cyclones never found a way to make a comeback, as Arizona won the first set 25-13, ending on a 5-0 scoring run to take a 1-0 match lead.
The Wildcats offensive and defensive strategies held Iowa State to a .061 hitting percentage, its lowest in the match. Hodge led the first set for Arizona, spiking 5 kills while hitting .625 percent and Wilson followed with 4 kills.
Set 2
Arizona jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the start of the second set but the Cyclones tied the game 6-6 after an ace served by Lilly Wachholz. Throughout the back-and-forth set, Iowa State found ways to keep the score close, finding a 12-11 lead. The Wildcats then went on a 3-point scoring run, attempting to narrow the 18-17 score.
Despite Arizona’s efforts trying to make a comeback and recorded two blocks, the Cyclones won the second set 25-23. Carlie Cisneros tallied 5 kills to lead the Wildcats. Wilson and Hodge followed, putting up 3 kills apiece.
Set 3
Throughout the third set, both programs traded points, unable to gain a steady lead. Arizona held a 7-3 lead but Iowa State went on a 3-point scoring run to get within 1-point of the Wildcats. Wilson spiked a kill to lead Arizona 15-14, forcing the Cyclones to take a timeout. Arizona scored the last 2 points of the third set to win 25-22, leading the match 2-1. Wilson put up 5 kills to lead the set while Johnson and Kiari Robey both added on 3 kills.
Set 4
The Wildcats were able to separate themselves from the Cyclones early in the fourth set, taking a 10-6 lead after an ace served by Avery Scoggins. Iowa State retaliated with a 3-point scoring run followed by an Arizona timeout. The Wildcats surged in the final moments of the set to secure a steady 24-17 lead. Arizona put three blocks and hit its highest percentage in the match, .429.
Hodge completed the set hitting .714 percent on 5 kills including the final kill that won the set 25-18. Defensively, Wilson tallied three blocks and added on 3 kills herself.
“Just holding each other accountable and doing our jobs is the biggest thing and I think we’ve seen that pay off in the past four or five games,” Hodge said when asked how the team has stayed so consistent.
Looking ahead
The Wildcats have two remaining matchups in their regular season as they prepare to take on the University of Central Florida on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 1 p.m. in McKale Center. Arizona’s last regular season game will be against Texas Tech University on Friday, Nov. 29 at noon in Lubbock, Texas.
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