TUCSON - Arizona defeated host New Mexico State in four sets on Saturday afternoon in the Borderland Invitational final (25-21, 19-25, 25-16, 25-20).
 
"I thought we played pretty well," said head coach Dave Rubio. "NMSU is a feisty team and we were able to grind out a win. I thought we found a way to play well at the end of every set."
 
Penina Snuka notched her fourth double-double of the season in style, going for a season-high 42 assists and 15 digs to go along with a career-high five aces, three blocks and two kills.
 
The Snuka-run offense was very efficient, posting 49 kills on .296 hitting. Kendra Dahlke led the Cats with 16 kills on .342 hitting while Kalei Mau (12) and McKenzie Jacobson (10) also posted double-digit kill matches. Jacobson led the team with a .421 hitting percentage.
 
Jacobson was also in on six blocks, helping the Wildcats slow down a powerful New Mexico State offense. UA totaled 12 blocks in the match.
 
Laura Larson made it 25 straight matches with 10-or-more digs as she finished second on the team with 11. UA posted 52 digs in the match.
 
The victory brought Arizona above .500 for the first time all season. UA is now 5-4 on the year, while New Mexico State dropped to 6-4.
 
The Wildcats broke away late and took the first set 25-21 after New Mexico State tied the frame at 20 to give the Cats a scare. UA hit .282 in the first set, led by Kendra Dahlke (6 kills, 13 attempts) and Kalei Mau (4 kills, 9 attempts). Laura Larson had six digs and Penina Snuka posted 12 assists in the opening frame.
 
New Mexico State scored 15 kills on .312 hitting in the second frame and held off the Cats to win the second set 25-19 to even the match.
 
Arizona responded by taking the first six points of the third set, including three straight Snuka aces. New Mexico State closed to within two points, but Arizona raced away with a 25-16 victory in the third.
 
The Wildcats closed it out with a 25-20 win in the fourth.
 
UP NEXT: The final nonconference tournament for the Wildcats in in Indianapolis, Indiana as the Cats take on Norther Kentucky, Loyola Chicago and Butler in the Butler Invitational Sept. 16-17.
 
FOLLOW THE CATS: For continued coverage of Arizona volleyball, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@ArizonaVBall)