(Tucson, AZ) With the loss on Friday to USC, the Cats needed to have a statement win over the #25 ranked visiting Bruins of UCLA.
Kendra Dahlke dinking, spiking and blocking gave Arizona an early 12-7 lead in the first set.
Coach Dave Rubio spared no words in his disappointment of lackluster effort against the Trojans. Every match for the rest of the season is vital in keeping #24 ranked Arizona’s RPI strong in order to be a part of the NCAA Tournament.
Candace Denny was a key part of the success the Cats had in the first set as Zona extended its lead to 22-12.
UCLA was guilty of a couple of net violations to give up easy points. Directly afterwards Dahlke hammered home a viscous kill.
Arizona won the first set 25-13.
The second set started out back and forth and a 6-6 tie. Dahlke serves up an ace to put the Cats up 8-7.
Coach Rubio challenged a “net violation” call against Paige Whipple that was ultimately reversed and instead of being tied 10-10, the Cats instantly went on a 5-2 run to go up 15-12 before UCLA called a timeout.
Arizona kept the pressure on by going on a 5-0 run to extend their lead to 20-12 and once again the Bruins were forced to call another time out.
UCLA forged back with a 3-0 run to cut the lead to 20-15 and forcing Rubio to call a timeout.
Another quick two points by the Bruins off Arizona’s time out closed the gap to 20-17 and the Cats called another timeout.
Not wanting to go down 2-0 in sets UCLA continues to score and come within one point 21-20.
The game was tied at 22-22 when UCLA made an unforced error with a serve into the net followed by another rocketby Dahlke and an attack error following to finish off the Bruins 25-22 to take a 2-0 lead in sets.
After two sets the Wildcats lead 34-24 in kill shots and ace serves 3-1.
Set 3 began with Dahlke and company going up 5-1 early. Whipple’s ace makes it 9-3.
Dahlke with her eighteenth kill and an 11-4 lead forces UCLA to call time out.
The Bruins put together a run of 5-2 before a long rally gives the Cats he point and stops the bleeding. Zona now up 15–9.
Devon Cross smashes two and the Cats smell blood as they extend their lead 19-11 and a Bruin timeout.
Cross and Dahlke not wanting to extend the match to a fourth set gave the Cats a 22-14 lead off separate smashes.
A goodnight smash from Whipple sends the Bruins packing 25-15.
Coach Rubio was pleased with the direct turn around from their dissappointing loss to the Trojans two days prior.
The Cal Bears are up next to close out Arizona’s home schedule and it’s Senior Night at McKale. The match starts at 4 pm.
Arizona closes out its regular season in Tempe against arch rival Arizona State on Saturday November 24th at 7 pm.
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