Arizona dominates Thunderbirds in a three-set sweep
By Pricilia Mugwa
TUCSON – Arizona closed out the Wildcat Classic with a sweep of Southern Utah (25-21, 25-19, 25-20) on Saturday afternoon, the team’s seventh sweep of the season.
The Wildcats finished the non-conference slate undefeated for the first time since 2009. Carlie Cisneros, Jaelyn Hodge, and Avery Scoggins were named to the Wildcat Classic All-Tournament Team.
Cisneros led Arizona with 11 kills and 13 digs – her third double-double of the season – while the defense tallied nine blocks and was led by Alayna Johnson with five blocks. Jaelyn Hodge recorded nine kills and Jaelyn Hodge had eight kills to help Arizona sweep Southern Utah.
The Cats won the opening set, 25-21. In a back-and-forth set, Hodge led the way with six kills and a .462 clip. Johnson and Wilson each tallied three kills to help the offense hit .359 as a team. Arizona’s defense held the Thunderbirds to a .214 hitting percentage and the Wildcats took advantage of a 3-0 run late in the set to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Arizona took the second set, 25-19. The Cats spread out their offense with seven players recording at least one kill. Cisneros and Wilson led the attack with four kills and a .375 clip each. Arizona’s defense recorded 3.0 blocks to hold SUU to a .062 hitting percentage, led by Johnson with three block assists. The Wildcats jumped to an early lead in the set and the Thunderbirds couldn’t catch up.
The Wildcats won the match with a 25-20 win in the third set. Cisneros totaled four kills and hit .500 to lead the offense. Three Wildcats – Wilson, Kiari Robey, and Amanda DeWitt – had two kills each. Arizona recorded 5.0 blocks to hold Southern Utah to a .111 clip. Robey led the defense with four blocks – one solo and four assists – and DeWitt recorded a season-high three block assists.
Arizona will open Big 12 play next week at Baylor and TCU. The Cats will face the Baylor Bears on Wednesday, September 25 at 5 p.m. MST before heading to TCU on Friday, September 27.
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