Arizona Defeats California in Four Sets

BERKELEY, Calif. – The Wildcats beat the Golden Bears 3-1 on Friday night in Berkeley, Calif. Arizona was led by Merle Weidt with 16 kills and five blocks and Jaelyn Hodge with 12 kills. The Cats improved to 11-3 (3-0 Pac-12) and have won their last six matches.
 
Set 1 | Arizona - 25, California - 20
The Cats took the first set, 25-20. Zyonna Fellows, Sofia Maldonado Diaz, and Merle Weidt led Arizona with three kills each. Fellows and Weidt also had two blocks to help keep the Golden Bears at bay. After trading points several times, the Wildcats pulled away thanks to two kills from Weidt and an ace from Kamaile Hiapo to end the set.
 
Set 2 | Arizona - 18, California - 25
Cal came back to win the second set, 25-18. Despite Hodge's four kills and Puk Stubbe's three kills, the Golden Bears' defense had five blocks to give California the set win.
 
Set 3 | Arizona - 25, California - 23
Weidt picked up seven kills in the third set to lead the Cats to a 25-23 win in the third set. Arizona's offense stepped up in the third set, hitting .350. Hodge and Maldonado Diaz each had four kills followed by Stubbe with three kills. Emery Herman directed the Arizona offense with 15 assists to help the Cats take the match lead. 
 
Set 4 | Arizona - 25, California - 23
Arizona won the match with a 25-23 victory in the fourth set. Weidt had four kills in the final set, recording a career high 16 kills in the match while hitting .700. Fellows also tallied four kills in the fourth set and Maldonado Diaz ended the match with a cross-court kill to give the Cats their sixth-straight win.
 
Match Leaders
Kills: Merle Weidt - 16
Assists: Emery Herman - 47
Aces: Emery Herman - 2
Digs: Kamaile Hiapo - 16
Blocks: Merle Weidt - 5
 
Arizona will face No. 17 Stanford at Maples Pavilion on Sunday, October 3 at 1 p.m. MST on the Pac-12 Networks.