University of Arizona Athletics issued the following announcement on Dec. 3.
The Wildcats swept the Vaqueros in the first round of the NIVC on Friday night. Arizona hit a season best .395 on 43 kills, while holding UTRGV to a hitting percentage of .062. Arizona will face UNLV in the second round of the NIVC on Saturday, December 4 at 4 p.m. in McKale Center.
Set 1 | Arizona – 26, UTRGV - 24
The Vaqueros opened the match strong to take an early lead, but Arizona fought back to win the first set 26-24. Jaelyn Hodge and Sofia Maldonado Diaz each recorded five kills, hitting .400 and .364, respectively. Emery Herman led the defense with three block assists and Maldonado Diaz had a solo block. Hodge picked up her fifth kill of the set to put Arizona in the lead at 25-24 and Herman and Alayna Johnson blocked UTRGV's attack to win the set.
Set 2 | Arizona - 25, UTRGV - 15
Puk Stubbe led the Wildcats with five kills in the second set, followed by Hodge with four kills. Johnson recorded three kills and two blocks to help the Wildcats hit .429 and hold the Vaqueros to a .037 hitting percentage. Herman ended the second set on a kill to give the Cats a 2-0 lead in the match.
Set 3 | Arizona - 25, UTRGV - 16
Arizona won the final set 25-16. The Wildcats took an early five-point lead that the Vaqueros couldn't catch. Hodge and Maldonado Diaz led the attack again with three kills apiece. Herman, Johnson, and Stubbe all recorded two kills and Zyonna Fellows picked up her second solo block of the match. Herman served an ace for the final point to help the Cats advance to the second round of the NIVC.
Match Leaders
Kills: Jaelyn Hodge - 12
Assists: Emery Herman - 31
Aces: Puk Stubbe - 2
Digs: Emery Herman - 9
Blocks: Zyonna Fellows - 5
Original source can be found here.
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