TUCSON - Fourteenth-ranked Arizona volleyball needed just three sets to dispose of No. 18 Oregon (25-15, 25-16, 25-23), earning its first sweep of a top-20 team in 364 days.
It was the Pac-12 home opener for Arizona (11-3, 1-1 Pac-12), which fell in four sets at No. 7 Arizona State on Thursday to open the conference slate. UA has now won four consecutive Pac-12 home debuts.
The sweep of Oregon (7-4, 1-1 Pac-12) is Arizona's first sweep of a top-20 opponent the Cats did it nearly exactly one calendar year at UCLA. The Cats swept the Bruins on Sept. 26, 2014.
“It's nice to get our first conference win,” said Arizona head coach Dave Rubio. “It's tough to get a win in the conference especially against a really good time like Oregon, who's offensively really hard to prepare for. I'm really proud of how our kids competed tonight, and it's a terrific win for us.
Kalei Mau once again led the way for Arizona, totaling 15 kills on 36 kills, giving her 42 kills in Arizona's two matches this week.
The fourth time was the charm for Arizona, which lost its first three matches of the season to ranked opponents.
UA has now defeated Oregon in consecutive matches, ending a stretch in which Oregon had won six of seven vs. the Cats. Arizona holds a 44-18 all-time advantage in the match.
Arizona's defense was spectacular, limiting Oregon to a .147 hitting percentage, a number that was well under .100 until a .378 effort in the third set.
No Oregon player reached double digits in kills while Mau (15) and Nikki Attea (10) both accomplished it for Arizona.
In addition to Attea's 10 kills on .429 hitting, the senior added a block and three aces, two of which came during a key 7-0 run in the third set in which Attea's serving helped Arizona turn a 12-9 deficit into a 16-12 lead in the clinching frame.
UA outdug the Ducks 48-41, 12 of which were by Laura Larson, who delivered her sixth double-digit-dig effort of the year.
Arizona and Oregon went back and forth early in the first set, with Arizona using an 8-2 run to finally gain separation and take a 20-12 lead. The Cats cruised from there, winning the first set 25-15 while limiting Oregon to a -.033 hitting percentage.
The Cats used momentum from the opening set to take an early advantage in the second before a 3-0 Oregon run tied the set at 12. Arizona responded with a 7-2 run to take control of the set. Mau led the way with seven kills in the frame.
Oregon took five of the first six points of the third set and appeared to be cruising until a 7-0 Arizona run turned a 12-9 deficit to a 16-12 Wildcat lead. Arizona would go on to win the third 25-23 to sweep the Ducks.
Up Next: Arizona is set to host the Bay Area schools next week as Stanford (Wednesday) and California (Friday) come to town in a pair of matches televised by the Pac-12 Networks.
Follow Arizona Volleyball: For further coverage of Arizona volleyball, visit ArizonaWildcats.com and follow the team's Twitter and Instagram accounts (@ArizonaVBall).
