TUCSON, Ariz. – Krista Vansant and Kylin Munoz combined for 29 kills to lead fifth-ranked Washington to a 3-1 (25-16, 25-23, 18-25, 25-23) win over Arizona on Saturday at the McKale Center.
Washington remained undefeated on the season, improving to 11-0 overall and 2-0 in the Pac-12, while Arizona dropped to 9-4 overall and 1-1 in the Pac-12. Despite the loss, the Wildcats became only the second team this season to take a set from the Huskies.
Arizona sophomore Madi Kingdon led three Wildcats with double-figure kills, as she tied for match-high honors with 15. Taylor Arizobal had 11 kills, while Shaquillah Torres had a strong match with 10 kills. Meanwhile, Candace Nicholson (Long Beach, Calif.) had a match-high 23 digs to lead the Arizona defense. The 23 digs were a season-high for Nicholson and just one off her career-high.
After the teams played fairly evenly early in the first set, Washington turned a 10-9 lead into a 16-9 advantage after winning six straight points. The Wildcats were never able to cut into the lead as the Huskies went on to take the set, 25-16. Washington hit a very efficient .464 in the set, while limiting UA to just .103 hitting.
Arizona jumped out to an early lead in the second set and led by as much as five at 12-7. The Wildcats remained in front 19-16 until the Huskies won the next four points to take a 20-19 advantage. After the two teams battled to a 23-23 tie, Washington came away with back-to-back kills to take the set, 25-23.
Much like the second set, Arizona grabbed the early lead in the third set. The result, however, was much different as the Cats never trailed in the set and went on to win 25-18. The Wildcats hit an incredible .522 in the set, while Washington was held to just .156. Kingdon and Arizobal each had five kills in the set to lead the Cats.
Both teams traded points during the beginning stages of the fourth set, but with the score tied 11-11, Washington went on a 4-0 run to take a 15-11 lead. The Wildcats battled back to tie the score at 22-22, but the Huskies won three of the next four points to win the set and clinch the match.
