SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Julia Patterson became the first Power 5 Conference player to record a triple-double this season, but the Wildcats fell in five hard-fought sets at No. 17 Utah (20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 19-25, 15-8) on Sunday afternoon at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.

Patterson posted 46 assists, 13 digs and a career-most 10 kills in the victory. The senior led the Pac-12 in double-doubles in 2018 and entered the day two behind the conference leader this season. Patterson picked up her 12th double-double with 43 assists and 13 digs entering the fifth set, and then recorded her career-best 10th kill to complete the triple-double. 

The triple-double was the first in her career and the first by a Wildcat in at least 10 years.

The senior setter, who entered the day first among Pac-12 setters in kills/set, third in digs/set and sixth in assists/set, had a career match, helping the Wildcats take the Utes to the brink, but Arizona could not complete the upset. In addition to her impressive individual statistics, Patterson also ran Arizona's modified offense well. UA hit .255, its best hitting percentage in the last eight matches, despite being without two outside hitters and a middle blocker due to concussion.

The Wildcats took set 1, 25-20, but fell in the second and third sets. The Cats fought back, though, winning the fourth set, 25-19 to force a fifth set. Arizona was unable to finish off the upset though, falling 15-8 in the fifth set. UA fell to 0-8 this year vs. ranked opponents.

Arizona's two starting outside hitters had big days, with Katie Smoot recording a season-high-tying 19 kills while Paige Whipple added 17 kills against just three hitting errors.

Devyn Cross, who had a career-most 10 blocks on Friday vs. Colorado, had seven more vs. Utah and added 12 kills on .400 hitting.

The Wildcats dropped to 12-12, 2-10 Pac-12 on the season while the Utes improved to 16-7, 8-4 Pac-12. Arizona now returns home to face California and Stanford next week at McKale Center.

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