Wildcats Drop Four-Set Battle to USC

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Wildcats fell to USC in four sets, 20-25, 25-22, 20-25, 20-25, on Friday night.
 
Jaelyn Hodge had 14 kills and Sofia Maldonado Diaz tallied 11 kills to lead Arizona’s offense. Maldonado Diaz and Ana Heath each served two aces in the match.
 
USC won the first set, 25-20. Arizona served three aces to USC’s one, but the Trojans held Arizona to just seven kills. Puk Stubbe and Maldonado Diaz had two kills each and Maldonado Diaz had two blocks in the set.
 
Arizona won the second set, 25-22, to even the match. The Wildcats hit .394 in the second set, led by Hodge and Maldonado Diaz with four kills each. Alayna Johnson helped push Arizona to the second-set win with three kills.
 
The Trojans regained the match lead with a 25-20 win in the third set. Maldonado Diaz had four kills again, but USC held Arizona to a .070 hitting percentage in the set.
 
USC won the fourth set, 25-20. Hodge led Arizona with six kills in the set, but Arizona’s defense was unable to slow down the Trojans’ offense.
 
The Wildcats will continue their homestand when they host UCLA on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 12 p.m. MST in McKale Center.
 
Match Leaders
Kills: Jaelyn Hodge – 14
Assists: Emery Herman – 38
Digs: Kamaile Hiapo – 19
Blocks: Zyonna Fellows – 3