Entering the weekend, the Wildcats had 4 all-time victories vs. Stanford in McKale Center. Now, over the span of 72 hours, the Cats added two extra to that total in what was a much-needed successful weekend for the young Arizona team, which improved to 2-4 (2-4 Pac-12) this season.
The Wildcats concluded a gauntlet of a beginning to the 2020-21 season that noticed the Wildcats face three top-11 groups six complete instances over the primary three weekends of the season and saw vital improvement over the latter half. After dropping the first three matches in straight units, Arizona took No. 11 Washington to 5, falling 15-13 in the fifth, final Sunday, after which bought over the hump with two wins over seventh-ranked Stanford this weekend. This marks the primary time Arizona has received two matches vs. top-10 opponents in a single weekend since Oct. 25-26, 2001, when Arizona beat #3 USC and #6 UCLA on consecutive nights.
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On Sunday, the Cats weren’t almost as dominant as they had been within the weekend’s first match, but they did sufficient to select up their second straight victory. The first three units had been carefully contested, with the Cats coming again late to win the first set, 27-25, after which taking a 2-0 lead within the match with a 25-17 win within the second set. Stanford got here again with a 25-21 win within the third to pressure the fourth set, the place the Cats received decisively, 25-13, to seal the victory and secure the weekend sweep.
Junior center blocker Zyonna Fellows had the perfect match of her profession, needing simply 13 error-free swings to web a career-best 10 kills (.769). She added three blocks. UA’s different center, freshman China Rai Crouch, was additionally incredible for UA, main the group with 5 blocks whereas including 5 kills on .444 hitting.
Freshman outdoors hitter Sofia Maldonado Diaz as soon as once more led Arizona with 15 kills, almost choosing up her second double-double within the course of. The freshman had 9 digs.
Sophomore libero Kamaile Hiapo had her finest match of the younger season, main the group with a season-high 17 digs and recording considered one of UA’s seven aces. She was considered one of three Wildcats with double-digit digs. Emery Herman had a double-double (34 assists, 15 digs) and Paige Whipple added 10 digs to go together with her seven kills.
After two weeks at home, the Cats will now hit the street for the upcoming weekend in Oregon. The Wildcats and the Geese will meet on Friday and Sunday in Eugene.
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