Arizona Sweeps Day One of Cactus Classic

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Wildcats defeated Marist and New Mexico State 3-0 in day one of the Cactus Classic. Against Marist, Arizona dominated defensively, holding Marist to a hitting percentage of .045. In the nightcap, the Cats' offense came alive with 43 total kills and 39 assists against the Aggies.
 
Game 1 vs. Marist
Set 1 | Arizona - 25, Marist - 11
Arizona opened the match strong taking an early lead over Marist. Jaelyn Hodge led the Cats with six kills, hitting .750. Sofia Maldonado Diaz contributed one ace and Merle Weidt had three blocks to help the Cats take the first set.
 
Set 2 | Arizona - 25, Marist - 15
In the second set, Arizona once again dominated the Red Foxes. Hodge and Maldonado Diaz couldn't be stopped offensively, combining for seven kills. Zyonna Fellows had two blocks and one kill.
 
Set 3 | Arizona - 25, Marist - 23
The Cats took the third set to sweep Marist. Hodge had four kills, totaling 14 kills in the match and tying her career high kills in a match. Maldonado Diaz, Emery Herman, Puk Stubbe, and Weidt all had two kills, helping Arizona defeat Marist 3-0.
 
Match Leaders
Kills: Jaelyn Hodge - 14
Assists: Emery Herman - 25
Digs: Kamaile Hiapo - 15
Blocks: Merle Weidt – 5
 
Game 2 vs. New Mexico State
Set 1 | Arizona 25, New Mexico State - 19
Hodge led the Cats with five kills, helping Arizona to take the early lead over New Mexico State. Maldonado Diaz had two kills and Stubbe had three kills. Herman, Hodge, Weidt, and Fellows each had one block to help the Cats take the first set.
 
Set 2 | Arizona 25, New Mexico State – 14
Stubbe dominated the Wildcats' offense in the second set with five kills and one service ace. Hodge had three kills, while Maldonado Diaz, Herman, and Weidt all contributed two kills to extend Arizona's lead to a two-set lead.
 
Set 3 | Arizona 25, New Mexico State – 20
Hodge, Maldonado Diaz, and Stubbe once again led the attack for Arizona, contributing 12 kills to the offense. Maldonado Diaz ad Weidt assisted each other on two blocks to keep the Aggies at bay. Arizona's defense kept the Aggies to a hitting percentage of .019 as the Cats won 3-0.
 
Match Leaders:
Kills: Puk Stubbe - 13
Assists: Emery Herman - 33
Digs: Kamaile Hiapo - 17
Blocks: Merle Weidt – 4
 
Arizona will face UC San Diego in the final match of the Cactus Classic on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in McKale Center.