(Tucson, AZ) The Cats come into this match against Alabama State Hornets on a three match winning streak. On the road for the past two weeks, Coach Dave Rubio’s team was ready to host the Wildcat Classic back at McKale Center in an early morning 10 am start.
Arizona comes in with a 7-2 record with the final tuneup before the conference wars start.
First Set: Arizona went out to a quick 5-2 lead largely in part to having a significant size advantage up front. The Hornets were pressed to get anything past the blocks of Elizabeth Shelton and Devyn Cross.
Two straight ace serves by Paige Whipple got the Cats back in track after Alabama State went on 6-4 run.
At the first timeout Zona lead 12-8. Arizona went on a mini run of their own extending their lead to 17-10 in part to the contented great blocking by the “Wildcat Wall” of Shelton and Cross.
The Cats pulled away in the first set with a Zyonna Fellows kill on set point 25-13 to take a 1-0 lead.
Arizona had ten kills and a hitting percentage of .450 and four big blocks to none for the Hornets. The Wildcats also had seven ace serves more than half of Alabama State’s total point output.
Second Set: Arizona continued how they left off in the first set by jumping out to a 6-2 lead. The passing on this Wildcat team has been improving week by week getting ready for Pac-12 play.
Alabama State came back with a 9-7 edge to tighten up the score 13–11 midway through the set.
Outside Hitter Whittnee Nihipali came off the bench with fire in her eyes and had a service ace and three kills and just like that, Zona was up 22-15 and ready to close out the second set.
Arizona jumped out to a 2-0 set lead as the Hornets crumbled down the home stretch.
Consistent passing and hitting continued to be the difference. Zona held steady with a .455 hitting percentage and twenty nine kills.
Alabama State had issues with only a .265 hitting percentage because of the taller Wildcats.
Third Set: Shelton came out with two big kills and Middle Blocker Shardonee Hayes came off the bench with three kills to double up the Hornets 8-4 early in the set.
The first block by Alabama State made the score 9-7 as it was do or die for the Hornets in the match.
After a challenge by Coach Rubio, the Cats ran off a 7-0 run to lead 16-7 forcing Alabama State to call timeout.
The cliff was crumbling under the feet of the Hornets and gave way as the Wildcats won going away 25-17 to take the match in three sets.
This was dominate performance by Arizona as they held the Hornets to .118 hitting percentage while finishing with a .438 clip themselves.
Shelton and Nihipali lead the team with ten kills a piece while Julia Patterson was on fire with twenty five assists. The Hornets Madison Beasley was next with only fourteen assists.
The Wildcats will wait the winner of the Sacramento State and New Mexico State game and will face off later in the evening.
