Match Stats
- Arizona defeats California 3-1 (19-25, 25-23, 27-25, 25-19)
- Arizona improves to 17-12
- California drops to 9-18
Press Releases
Arizona:
TUCSON, Ariz. — Kendra Dahlke and Kalei Mau posted 18 kills apiece as Arizona defeated California in four sets at McKale Center on Friday afternoon (19-25, 25-23, 27-25, 25-19).
“It was a little rough out there for us,” said head coach Dave Rubio. “I’m not sure why we played so uninspired, it was frustrating for us. The lack of execution, lack of emotion, and lack of desire was very frustrating, especially this time of year. Heading into the last three matches, I would hope we would be a little more dialed in. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.”
After a slow start, the Cats rebounded to win three straight sets to take down the Bears to kick off a three-game homestand.
“We got better as the match went along,” said Rubio. “It was still a struggle. I was happy we were able to make some changes. I think it was a result of our emotional level going up. We were able to execute at a higher level.”
The victory ensured Arizona of its ninth straight winning season, putting the Cats at 17-12 (9-8 Pac-12) with three matches remaining in the regular season.
Arizona’s outside hitters proved to be the difference on Friday night, as Dahlke and Mau posted 18 kills each while Katarina Pilepic added 11 kills on .455 hitting.
The Cats and the Bears combined for 23 blocks in the match. Arizona’s 11 were the most in a four-set match since September 30 vs. Oregon State. Devyn Cross led the Wildcats with seven blocks, tying a career-high for the freshman.
“It’s getting to the end of the season obviously, and it’s becoming all or nothing,” said Rubio. “We just have to give everything we have right now, and get emotionally involved in the game. And we came out with a win.”
Makenna Martin led Arizona in digs for the first time this season, posting 10 of Arizona’s 49 digs.
“I just tried to come up and have some energy, and try to help the girls get going,” said Martin, who came off the bench for her big match. “Whatever happens, happens.”
Arizona was unable to stop Cal’s offense, which hit .323 in the first set and the Bears broke away late to win the opening set, 25-19.
The Cats responded in the second set, squeaking out a 25-23 victory to tie the match at the intermission.
Arizona led the majority of the third set, and appeared to be poised to put it away, up 24-19. Cal not only erased all five set points, but scored six straight to come a point away from stealing the third set. UA scored the final three points to survive, 27-25.
UA’s defense stepped up in the fourth, limiting Cal to an .036 hitting percentage as the Cats cruised to victory, 25-19.
UP NEXT: Arizona hosts No. 12 Stanford on Sunday at noon on the Pac-12 Networks.
California:
TUCSON, Ariz. – Junior Christine Alftin had 19 kills and sophomore Belen Castillo registered a career-high seven blocks to go along with 10 kills, but the Cal volleyball team dropped an ultra-competitive 19-25, 25-23, 27-25, 25-19 decision at Arizona on Friday.
Freshman Maddie Haynes also had 10 kills for the Bears (9-18, 3-14 Pac-12), who erased a 24-19 deficit in the second set to reach set point, only to see the Wildcats pull back ahead and close it out.
After the first set was tied 14-14, the Bears gradually distanced themselves from the Wildcats and won the set going away. A block by Haynes and Castillo, an ace by Alftin and a kill by Haynes gave the Bears a 17-14 lead. After Arizona closed to within 19-17, senior Jenelle Jordan came up with a block and a kill and Alftin followed with a kill of her own to push Cal’s advantage to 22-17. The set ended on a Wildcats service error.
The Bears never led in the second set but kept it nip and tuck throughout. They fell behind 15-12 but scored three in a row to tie it. After Arizona went up 20-18, Cal knotted the score again on a kill by Castillo and a block by Castillo and sophomore Mackenzie Albrecht. The Bears staved off one set point at 24-22 on a kill by Alftin, but the Wildcats were able to close it out and even the match.
The Bears almost pulled off a memorable comeback in the third set after Arizona reached set point at 24-19. A block by Castillo and a couple of hitting errors by the Wildcats made it 24-22. After Arizona called timeout, Cal completed the comeback and took at 25-24 lead on another Wildcats hitting error, a block by Jordan and an ace by senior Sabrina Blackwell. But Arizona was able to regroup and score the next three points to take the lead in the match.
Senior libero Maddy Kerr led Cal’s defensive effort with 13 digs, giving her 1,736 for her career. She is now 74 short of the program’s all-time record of 1,810, set by Jillian Davis from 2003-06. The Bears have three matches remaining, beginning with Saturday’s match at Arizona State. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT. Live video and audio are available at CalBears.com.
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