TUCSON - Sixteenth-ranked Arizona split its first two matches of the Wildcat Classic, downing New Mexico State in the matinee game in four sets (25-14, 24-26, 25-19, 25-23) before taking second-ranked Texas to five, (25-22, 16-25, 25-27, 25-20, 6-15).
MATCH 1: Arizona 3, New Mexico State 1 (25-15, 24-26, 25-19, 25-23)
Halli Amaro had 11 kills and seven blocks while Kalei Mau added 20 kills as Arizona earned a hard-fought victory over New Mexico State in four sets (25-15, 24-26, 25-19, 25-23).
The Cats opened in dominant fashion with a 25-15 set-1 victory before the next three sets were decided by a total of 10 points.
Arizona tied a season-high with 13 blocks, including a career-high-tying three solo blocks from McKenzie Jacobson.
The Cats hit just .201 in the match, but were able to keep the Aggies under .200.
Mau, who as of six days ago had never had more than 15 kills in a match in her career, put together her third straight match with 18 or more kills, one match after her career-high 23 vs. Ohio State.
Amaro's 11 kills and seven blocks were both season highs. The senior led Arizona with a .450 hitting percentage.
The Wildcats started strong, forcing New Mexico State to use a timeout after just five points, with UA ahead 5-0. Arizona remained with its foot on the gas, cruising to an opening-set 25-15 victory. Kalei Mau led the Cats with four kills on .444 hitting as UA outhit New Mexico State .355-.114 in the set.
It was a much more competitive second set, with the Aggies taking a late lead before the Wildcats fought back and fought off a set point to tie the set at 24 apiece. New Mexico State scored the final two points to win 26-24 and tie the match 1-1.
Out of the break, the Cats won the third set 25-19 behind seven blocks, four from Amaro. UA outhit the Aggies .324 to .216 in the frame.
In the fourth, New Mexico State battled back from a five-point deficit to take a 22-21 lead. Arizona took four of the final five points to win the set 25-23 and win the match in four sets.
MATCH 2: Texas 3, Arizona 2 (25-22, 16-25, 25-27, 25-20, 6-15)
Junior Kalei Mau finished with a match-best 22 kills on a match-high 74 swings, nearly leading Arizona to the monumental upset over No. 2 Texas, but in the Longhorns edged No. 16 Arizona 3-2 (25-22, 16-25, 25-27, 25-20, 6-15), Friday night inside a packed McKale Center.
For Mau, the 22-kill performance was just one shy of equaling her career high, while she's now recorded 20-plus kills in three straight matches. Laura Larson finished with a team-best 19 digs, while Penina Snuka recorded 16 digs.
The Wildcats got things going early, dominating the opening set from start to finish, as Mau led the way with a set-high eight kills on 20 total swings. Penina Snuka also contributed in a big way, securing a set-best six digs, helped to guide the Cats to the first set victory.
Texas managed to close within 23-22, but the Cats came through in the clutch, taking back-to-back points to secure the 25-22 victory.
In the second set it was UT showing why it came in as the No. 2 ranked team in the country, as the Longhorns cruised to the 25-16 win. Texas then followed that up with a grueling 27-25 third set victory to take an overall 2-1 advantage.
But this one was far from over as, Arizona nearly completed one of the biggest comebacks of the college volleyball season, as the Cats rallied with six straight points to open up the fourth set after initially falling behind 2-0 initially.
UA soon turned a 6-2 advantage into a 22-18 lead. The Cats then secured the next three points to take home the 25-20 victory to force a deciding fifth set.
The Cats' positive momentum carried into the fifth, as they recorded to take the first two points of the set. However, Texas responded with an 8-1 rally of its own to claim an 8-3 advantage.
Arizona would secure three more points before dropping the set 15-6, clinching the 3-2 victory for Texas.
Up Next: Arizona wraps up the Wildcat Classic on Saturday when it faces Savannah State at noon in the final nonconference match of the season.
Follow Arizona Volleyball: For further coverage of Arizona volleyball, visit ArizonaWildcats.com and follow the team's Twitter and Instagram accounts (@ArizonaVBall).
