SEATTLE - Despite a decisive first-set victory, No. 14 Arizona volleyball fell in four sets to the sixth-ranked Washington Huskies (25-17, 22-25, 25-27, 17-25) on Wednesday evening at the Alaska Airlines Arena).
Kalei Mau picked up her sixth 20-plus kill outing in Arizona's last 10 matches with 23 to lead all scorers.
Penina Snuka posted her fourth consecutive double-double with 46 assists and 13 digs. The junior added two kills and two aces.
McKenna Painton posted a career-high 18 digs in the match. UA (12-5, 2-3 Pac-12) outdug the Huskies 62-60.
Arizona had no answer for the Washington presence at the net. Washington (14-1, 4-1 Pac-12) outblocked Arizona 13-6, while middle blocker Lianna Sybeldon posted 19 kills on an errorless 26 swings (.731).
The loss was Arizona's fifth to a team currently ranked in the top 10. Arizona has taken at least set in each of the five matches, including a pair of five set losses to No. 2 Texas and No. 7 Stanford. In addition to Arizona's seven set victories over top-10 teams, UA has forced deuce in six additional sets. Arizona is 0-6 in those sets.
Arizona is 12-0 against teams ranked outside of the top nine in the current AVCA Top 25, a record that will be put to the test on Friday when the Cats take on a 12-4 Washington State team in Pullman.
Arizona came out of the gates strong, leading the fifth-ranked Huskies by five early in the first set. Washington would close to within three at 18-15, but it would as close as the Huskies would come. Arizona ran away with the second, 25-17. The Cats controlled the majority of the set with superb defense, limiting the league-leaders in hitting percentage to -.024 hitting in the frame.
The Huskies responded in the second. Washington led 12-8 after the first 20 points, but Arizona came back with four-in-a-row to tie things up. UA grabbed a 14-13 lead, but Washington surged from there, getting six set points at 24-18. Arizona went on a 4-0 run to make things interesting, but the Huskies closed it out, 25-22 in the second.
Washington carried the momentum into the third. The Huskies dominated early and extended to a 21-14 lead, their largest of the set. Arizona went on a 7-1 run to get to within a point at 22-21. UA would capture set point at 24-23 before the Huskies came back to force deuce and win 27-25.
The Cats were unable to regroup, falling in the fourth set 25-17.
Up Next: The Wildcats hit the road for four matches beginning in Washington. Arizona takes on the Huskies on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. before heading to Corvallis to take on Washington State on Friday, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. MST. Both matches will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.
Follow Arizona Volleyball: For further coverage of Arizona volleyball, visit ArizonaWildcats.com and follow the team's Twitter and Instagram accounts (@ArizonaVBall).
