MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Arizona improved to 6-0 on the season after beating Alabama in four sets (25-22, 25-27, 25-21, 25-21) on Saturday morning. With the win over the Crimson Tide, the Wildcats completed the sweep of the ASU Collegiate Classic.
The Wildcats totaled a season-high 9.0 blocks to hold Alabama to a .128 hitting percentage.
Kiari Robey led the defense with seven blocks – two solo and five block assists – and also paced the offense with a career-best 16 kills and a .438 hitting percentage.
Jordan Wilson also recorded 16 kills and had two block assists in the match.
Arizona won the first set, 25-22, after taking the lead at the end of the set. The Wildcats had three blocks to hold Alabama to a .073 hitting percentage. Robey and Wilson both had four kills and hit .375 to help Arizona win the opening set.
Carlie Cisneros tallied three kills while recording four digs. Robey was also involved in every block in the set.
The Crimson Tide won the second set, 27-25. Arizona was out-blocked 3.0-7.0 and Alabama served three aces to even the match. Wilson had five kills and a .308 clip in the set while Robey and
Jaelyn Hodge had three kills each. Robey tallied three blocks again but it wasn't enough for the Cats to take the set.
The Wildcats took the third set, 25-21, to go up 2-1 in the match. In another back-and-forth set, Arizona took the lead at the end and went on a 3-0 run to win the set. Arizona's offense hit a match-high .389 and Robey and Wilson led the attack with five kills each while Hodge followed with four kills. The Wildcats' defense tallied three kills, led by
Alayna Johnson with two block assists.
Arizona won the fourth set, 25-21, to secure the match victory. The Wildcats' middle blockers – Johnson and Robey – led the offense with four kills each and both hit above .500 in the set. Arizona served four aces and Cisneros had two service aces to help the Cats win the set.
The Wildcats will head to New Mexico State for the Borderland Invitational beginning Friday, September 13 in Las Cruces, N.M. Arizona will face Abilene Christian on Friday at 10 a.m. MST to open the tournament.
