TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona won the second game of the season, 3-1, over VCU on Saturday during the Cactus Classic. The Cats dropped the first set, 21-25, but won the next three sets, 25-12, 25-13, 25-18.
Fifth year senior Jaelyn Hodge led the Arizona offense with 14 kills and a .314 hitting percentage. Kiari Robey and Sydnie Vanek each had eight kills in the match with Vanek tying her career high.
Defensively, sophomore middle blocker Journey Tucker led the Cats with a career high six blocks – one solo and five block assists. Vanek and Ana Heath each had two blocks to help the defense.
Arizona fell in the first set, 21-25. Hodge tallied six kills in the set, but VCU held Arizona to a .098 hitting percentage. The Rams took the lead early in the set and the Wildcats weren’t able to come back. Tucker tallied three block assists and Vanek had two blocks.
The Wildcats came out strong in the second set, evening the match with a 25-12 win. Arizona outhit VCU .368-.111 and served four aces in the set. Vanek led the Cats with three kills while Carlie Cisneros and Robey had two kills each. Hodge served a pair of aces to help Arizona. After a back-and-forth start to the set, the Cats went on a 7-0 run to gain the lead and never relinquish it.
Arizona won the third set, 25-13, and the Cats out-hit and out-blocked the Rams. Hodge led the Cats again with four kills and a .429 clip….
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