PHOENIX, Ariz. – Arizona lost its first match of the GCU Invitational 3-1 to Iowa State. The Cats avoided the sweep with a win in set three but couldn’t complete the comeback as Iowa State won the fourth set 25-12.
Sofia Maldonado Diaz led Arizona’s offense with 16 kills and Alayna Johnson led the Cats on defense with six blocks.
Iowa State won a back-and-forth first set, 27-25. Jaelyn Hodge and Maldonado Diaz had four kills each to lead the Cats in the set. Nicole Briggs and Jordan Wilson each had three kills. Arizona totaled two blocks but the Cyclones hit .355 to edge out the Cats.
In the second set, the Wildcats fell 22-25 as Iowa State took a 2-0 lead in the match. Maldonado Diaz had six kills to help Arizona, but the Cyclones held the Cats to a -.025 hitting percentage in the set. Johnson recorded three of Arizona’s four total blocks.
The Cats won the third set, 26-24, to force a fourth set. Puk Stubbe led the offense with four kills while Hodge and Maldonado Diaz each tallied three kills. Arizona hit .321 in the set and took advantage of late runs to win the set.
Arizona fell in the fourth set, 12-25, as Iowa State won the match. The Cyclones held Arizona’s offense at bay with six blocks and allowing the Cats to record only four kills.
Match Leaders
Kills: Sofia Maldonado Diaz – 16
Assists: Ana Heath – 19
Digs: Jaelyn Hodge – 13
Blocks: Alayna Johnson – 6
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