Arizona Sweeps First Day of Cactus Classic

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Wildcats swept the first day of the Cactus Classic, winning 3-0 against LIU and New Mexico State. Five Wildcats had 12 or more total kills during the day, led by Jaelyn Hodge with 18 total kills.
 
Arizona's defense was strong, recording seven blocks against the Sharks and nine blocks against the Aggies. Emery Herman led the defense with seven total blocks.
 
Match 1 | Arizona 3, LIU 0
Arizona opened the season with a straight-set win over LIU, 25-16, 25-10, 25-18. Hodge led the team with 13 kills and a career high .522 hitting percentage. Hodge tallied five kills in the first set and seven kills in the second set. Zyonna Fellows and Sofia Maldonado Diaz each recorded eight kills to help the Cats beat the Sharks.
 
Freshman Ana Heath served two aces and had 10 assists in her first match as a Wildcat. Herman led Arizona with 17 assists and three block assists.
 
Match 2 | Arizona 3, New Mexico State 0
Arizona swept New Mexico State, 25-14, 25-19, 25-19, to close out the first day of the season. Alayna Johnson led the attack with eight kills, hitting .571, and helped the defense with four blocks. Puk Stubbe followed Johnson with seven kills and Maldonado Diaz had six kills.
 
Heath continued to lead the Wildcats in aces, serving four against the Aggies.
 
Match 1 Leaders vs. LIU
Kills: Jaelyn Hodge – 13
Assists: Emery Herman – 17
Digs: Kamaile Hiapo - 12
Blocks: Zyonna Fellows & Emery Herman – 3
 
Match 2 Leaders vs. NMSU
Kills: Alayna Johnson – 8
Assists: Emery Herman – 23
Digs: Kamaile Hiapo - 12
Blocks: Emery Herman & Alayna Johnson – 4