Courtesy of Arizona Communications Services
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Arizona volleyball wrapped up its 3-0 weekend in Sacramento with a four-set victory over host Sacramento State (25-12, 25-17, 26-28, 25-17) to earn the Hornet Invitational Championship.
Kendra Dahlke led the way once again for Arizona, posting a monster double-double, leading the team with 24 kills and a career-best 19 digs. After posting a career-high 28 kills the night before, this marks the first time in the senior’s career with back-to-back 20-plus kill matches. Saturday’s performance put the finishing touches on a great opening weekend for the senior. She had 67 total kills in the three matches (5.58 per set), while hitting .370 on 146 swings. Dahlke added 35 digs (2.92/set) on the weekend. She entered her senior season 79 kills shy of becoming the 18th player in Arizona history to surpass 1,000 career kills. That number is down to 12.
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Dalhlke was named Hornet Invitational Most Valuable Player. Julia Patterson and Devyn Cross were also named to the all-tournament team.
While Dahlke dominated on offense, it was Arizona’s defense that helped the Wildcats to victory on Saturday. UA had 101 digs in the match, the most since the opening match of the 2015 season at SMU (112 digs; 8/28/15). Four Wildcats had double-digit digs in the match: Dahlke (19), Makenna Martin (18), Julia Patterson (15) and Emi Pua’a (15). Arizona’s defense limited the Hornets to a .095 hitting percentage for the weekend. The Cats had nine blocks led by Devyn Cross’ five to go along with her nine kills.
Patterson completed her phenomenal opening weekend with a double-double, 41 assists and 15 digs to go along with a team-best three aces and a career-high four blocks.
UA finished the weekend 3-0 and will now turn its attention to its home-opening tournament next weekend. The Wildcats welcome Lipscomb, Pacific and San Diego State for the Cactus Classic, Aug. 31-Sept. 1. Arizona’s current 3-0 record marks the first 3-0 start since 2015 and 11th time that the Wildcats have finished opening week unbeaten in head coach Dave Rubio’s career.
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Arizona dominated the first set, scoring 18 of the final 24 points of the set to cruise to a 25-12 victory in the opener. UA outhit Sacramento State .452-.242 in the frame. Julia Patterson stuffed the box score with nine assists, five digs, two aces and two blocks.
UA was equally dominant in the second set, defeating the Hornets 25-17.
Sacramento State controlled the third set until a 7-2 run from Arizona tied things up at 19. The teams would trade points from there, with UA fighting off three Sacramento State set points before the Hornets closed out the frame, 28-26.
The Wildcats responded with a convincing victory in the fourth to put the match away, 25-17.
