SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Arizona defeated West Virginia in four sets to open Saturday's action and swept San Diego State to end the night at the SDSU/USD Invitational in San Diego, California.
Match 1: Arizona 3, West Virginia 1 (30-32, 25-14, 25-12, 25-19)
Arizona used a dominant performance in sets 2-4 to overcome a tough opening set to defeat West Virginia in four sets (30-32, 25-14, 25-12, 25-19) on Saturday morning in the SDSU/USD Invitational.
The Wildcats were slow out of the gates, falling behind West Virginia by five in the first set, before rallying to force deuce and ultimately falling in a marathon (32-30) of a first set. After that, though, it was all Arizona, which had convincing victories in each of the final three sets.
The Wildcats used 16 blocks to suffocate the West Virginia offense. UA's 16 blocks were its most in a single match since its 16 vs. New Mexico State on Sept. 16, 2017 (5 sets) and most in a four-set match since Nov. 1, 2015 (vs. California).
Arizona dominated the match statistically in every aspect. UA out-killed (58-41), out-blocked (16-10), out-dug (83-67) and out-hit (.272-.073) West Virginia in the match.
Junior outside hitter
Paige Whipple led the way with her first double-double of the season and 16th of her career, posting 19 kills and 16 digs to go along with two aces and two blocks in the match. She was one of three Wildcats to post double-doubles;
Katie Smoot (13 kills, 13 digs) and
Julia Patterson (46 assists, 13 digs) added their second double-doubles of the season.
Defensively, Arizona was led by freshman libero
Kamaile Hiapo, who posted a career-most 27 digs, just missing the Arizona single-match top-10. She added six assists in the match.
Senior middle blocker
Devyn Cross tied her career high with nine blocks.
Match 2: Arizona 3, San Diego State 0 (25-10, 25-22, 25-19)
The Wildcats closed out the SDSU/USD Invitational with a sweep (25-10, 25-22, 25-19)
over San Diego State on Saturday night.
Arizona came out strong, downing the Aztecs 25-10 in the first set, and kept the momentum going throughout the match. Sets 2 and 3 were closely contested by SDSU, but the Wildcats remained on top, winning two straight sets.
The Cats led the Aztecs with a hitting percentage of .437-.185.
Paige Whipple and
Katie Smoot led Arizona with 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Whipple recorded her second double-double of the season and 17th of her career with 13 kills and 11 digs along with two assists, leading Arizona offensively and defensively.
Junior
Shardonee Hayes set a season high and tied her career high of 9 kills.
