(Tucson, AZ) After putting away Appalachian State in the early match, the Cat’s focus turned to Loyola Marymount University in the nightcap.
This Arizona squad is ranked #24 in the AVCA poll and Coach Dave Rubio believes he has the talent to make noise in the PAC-12 Conference race and into the NCAA’s.
In the first set, an ace serve by Katie Smoot put the Cats up 2-1 early, but the lead went back and forth from there to Arizona being down 9-10.
Shardonee Hayes ignited the crowd with a spectacular block and great defense by Smoot got Zona back up on top 14-12.
The Lions lost their service touch as they committed five errors and a 20-16 Arizona lead.
Another service ace by Smoot forced LMU into a time out. The sixth service error of the set allowed the Wildcats to cruise the rest of the way to a 25-18 win.
Senior setter Julia Patterson spread the ball around to several teammates with success in that first set.
While Arizona enjoyed crisp passing, the same wasn’t the case for the Lions in the second set. Problems getting the ball placed to have an advantage eluded LMU as their hits went out of bounds.
The Cats went up 7-4 and led to a challenged call from LMU Coach Aaron Mansfield which was not overturned.
Loyola Marymount’s service issues continued to plague their efforts as they committed their third of the second set.
Things turned around briefly, as the Lions had an ace serve, a point off of a great rally and scored when there was confusion by Arizona allowing the ball to hit the floor. LMU took the lead at 13-12.
Problems passing by the Lions led to a Arizona block and the Cats went back up 15-14.
The Lions came roaring back with an ace of their own to knot the score at 17-17.
When matches are close and the lead keeps changing hands, it takes one special play to ignite not only the crowd, but the other teammates around. Senior Emi Pua’a incredible cross court bump set resulting in a Smoot kill was that moment and the Wildcats went back up 18-17 forcing an LMU timeout to try to take the crowd out of it.
Redshirt Junior Liz Shelton got her sixth kill and a wonderful-18 Zona lead.
The Lions kept the pressure on and trailed 21-20. LMU’s Freshman outside hitter Rose Booth came back with a kill to even it up at 21-21 and an Arizona timeout.
Out of the timeout, Hayes scored to give the Cats the lead at 22-21. Arizona had a game point opportunity at 24-22 but the Lions didn’t quit as Junior outside hitter Meredith Teague rocketed a kill shot and the score was tied at 24-24.
The Wildcats scored the next two points to go up two sets to none. Patterson continued her great passing and Smoot, Paige Whipple and Shelton led the way with seven kills a piece.
LMU’s serves remained an issue with four more errors in the second set. They led in kills from Booth with nine and kept things close.
Arizona jumped out quickly 2-0 in the third set with consistent play from freshman libero sensation Kamaile Hiapo who’s dig in the back row that allowed Smoot another kill shot.
Cats went up 7-4 until a Lion’s kill shot by Booth off of a Bo Culo save to draw to 5-7.
Booth with her second kill tied the score at 7-7. Loyola Marymount relied on Booth too much and Arizona began to adjust.
The Wildcats settled down and went up 12-10 and some misplay off of confusion by the Lions increased their deficit to 15-12 and forced a timeout.
Booth did everything she could to keep the Lions in the game at 17-15, when Arizona scored three quick points including a Whipple ace serve 20-15.
LMU got the three points back at 20-18 highlighted by an ace from Booth. Zona was forced to call a timeout.
Arizona went on a 5-2 run to close out the game and the match when Hayes crushed the game winner and the Cats swept their second consecutive foe 25-20.
