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The Daily Wildcat

The Daily Wildcat

 

Wildcats sweep Texas State and ACU, remain unbeaten to start the season

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Rebecca Noble

After earning their first victory of the season Friday, No. 17 Arizona volleyball (3-0) continued its undefeated season with wins against Texas State and Abilene Christian on Saturday.

“It was a terrific weekend,” said Arizona volleyball head coach Dave Rubio in a press release. “The SMU match was a big match for us. They’re going to win a lot of matches so it’s a good RPI game for us. They returned most of their team that won 26 games last year. To be able to beat an experienced group like they were with the young team we have on the road says a lot about the character of our team.”

The SMU match Rubio is referring to was the four-set defeat of SMU on Friday.

The Wildcats began the match against Texas State with 19 straight points and dominated the Bobcats throughout the match. According to Arizona Athletics, the streak was the largest run in UA volleyball history.

Overall, Arizona defeated Texas State in straight sets 25-5, 25-22, 25-13 in front of a crowd of 162.

Junior outside hitter Kalei Mau and redshirt sophomore middle blocker McKenzie Jacobson led the Wildcats in kills with 12 each. For Jacobson, the number was a career high. She also recorded the 12 kills on just 16 swings, tying the third best percentage in school history.

Junior setter Penina Snuka had 17 digs and carried the Wildcats with 35 assists. Arizona’s eight total team blocks outlasted Texas State’s five.

As a team, the Wildcats hit .386 in the match against Texas State, the highest since September 2014.

Rubio rested starters Mau and senior middle blocker Halli Amaro against Abilene Christian, which allowed redshirt freshman Jade Turner her first collegiate action.

“It was nice to be able to play another lineup and rest [Mau] and [Amaro],” Rubio said in a press release. “It was good, almost everyone got a chance to play. After how hard they’ve been working, they deserved it.”

The Wildcats crushed Abilene Christian in straight sets 25-13, 25-16, 25-12.

Senior opposite Nikki Attea had 10 kills for the Wildcats with just one error. Freshman outside hitter Tyler Spriggs added 7 kills. Junior libero and defensive specialist Mackenzie Kleespies had 12 digs.

Snuka picked up her third double double of the season in as many games with 24 assists and 10 digs against Abilene Christian.

The Wildcats host the Arizona Invitational in McKale Center on Friday and Saturday. Arizona will play South Dakota on Friday then Florida A&M and Cal State Northridge on Saturday.


Follow Matt Wall on Twitter.


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