Sept. 14, 2012

Photo Gallery 

Box Score   |  Post-match Press Conference

TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona hit a season-high .396 and Madi Kingdon (Phoenix, Ariz.) finished with a match-high 14 kills to lift the Wildcats to a 3-0 (25-23, 26-24, 25-15) sweep of Boise State at the Arizona Desert Classic on Friday night inside the McKale Center.

The Wildcats, who swept UC Irvine earlier in the day, now improve their record to 7-3 on the season. Meanwhile, Boise State falls to 6-7 on the year. The match featured just two lead changes – both coming in a back and forth second set.

Kingdon recorded her ninth double-figure kill match of the season, while also adding six digs on the night. Sophomore Taylor Arizobal (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) also finished with double-figure kills as she provided 10 on .474 hitting. Meanwhile, freshmen Halli Amaro (Los Alamitos, Calif.) and Olivia Magill (Seattle, Wash.) combined for 14 kills and eight blocks.

In addition, sophomores Shaquillah Torres (Riverside, Calif.) and Rachel Rhoades (San Diego, Calif.) were extremely efficient on the night. Torres added nine kills and hit .583, while Rhoades provided six kills on .545 hitting with four blocks. The Wildcats dished out 50 assists for the second straight match as Chanel Brown (Tempe, Ariz.) and Lauren Fuller (Los Angeles, Calif.) combined for 46 of the 50 assists. Candace Nicholson (Long Beach, Calif.) was strong once again in the back row as she finished with a match-high 11 digs.

Arizona took control of the opening set and it looked as if the Wildcats would cruise to a victory; however, Boise State would not concede. The U of A led by as much as seven at 22-15, but the Broncos won seven of the next eight points to pull within one at 23-22. After the two teams traded the next two points, Shaquillah Torres (Riverside, Calif.) clinched the set for the Cats with a cross-court kill. The Wildcats hit .270 in the frame, while also coming away with five blocks.

Boise State jumped out a lead in the second set with its biggest advantage coming at 20-16. Arizona battled back to tie the score at 22-22 on a kill by Kingdon. After the teams traded the next few points to bring the score to 24-24, Torres and Magill added back-to-back kills to give the Wildcats a 26-24 victory in the set. Arizona hit .553 in the set, which was a season-high hitting percentage for a set. The Wildcats had 24 kills with just three errors in the frame.

Arizona came out of the locker room on fire in the third set as the Cats jumped out to a very quick 7-1 lead. It was a lead that they would never relinquish as they cruised to a 25-15 victory to clinch the match. Arizona hit .346 in the set, but most importantly, held Boise State to .040 hitting.

The Broncos were led by Alyssa Gammel and Brittany Reardon as they each finished with 10 kills on the night.

The Wildcats return to action tomorrow morning against American in the Arizona Desert Classic. The match is set to begin at 10:00 a.m.

For continued coverage of Arizona Wildcat volleyball, visit ArizonaWildcats.com and be sure to follow the team on Twitter @ArizonaVBall.