The University of Arizona Volleyball team started The Wildcat Classic Tournament with a sweep over visiting North Dakota State University, Thursday night at McKale Center.
The Cats were able to win three straight sets (25-19, 25-20, 25-22.)
Arizona was able to get off to a hot start in the first game going on a 6-0 run after North Dakota State got the opening point.
However the Bison did not quit in the first set despite not having the momentum and made it tough on the Wildcats, coming within one point to keep it close before eventually losing the set.
North Dakota State continued to keep the following sets close and even took lead throughout different times of both the second and third set.
“We knew what we had to do to change that we really did,”said Freshman Outside Hitter Carlie Cisineros about the early struggles in the second set. “Every single huddle we were just like we need to relax, focus on the next point.”
Final point of the second set. (Ray Cervantes)
A key player that led to the win was Arizona’s Senior Outside Hitter Jaelyn Hodge. Hodge led the team in scoring with 17 kills against North Dakota State.
Head Coach Charita Stubbs had this to say about Hodge’s improvement since the last match “We’ve changed where she's starting her position in terms of attacking and I think that has helped and made her become more offensive.”
Despite coming off a win to start the tournament, and a record start to the season the Wildcats have been able to stay centered and not focus on the praise they’ve been getting.
“If we stay with where we are right now and we don’t worry about the past, we learn from it, then that will help us so much and it’s helped us so much already” said Freshman Setter Avery Scoggins.
Arizona looks to improve on their 10-0 record on Saturday at 12:00 PM against Southern Utah, while North Dakota State tries to bounce back against the same Southern Utah team at 3:00 PM Friday.
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