Arizona Opens NCAA Tournament vs. No. 20 Western Kentucky
12/02/2015 | Volleyball
WEEK 15 (DEC. 4-5): NCAA Tournament 1st & 2nd Rounds // Provo, Utah
| ARIZONA WILDCATS (19-13, 9-11 Pac-12) | #20 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (31-3, 15-1 CUSA) | #11 BYU Cougars (26-3, 16-2 WCC) | Ohio Bobcats (25-7, 13-3 MAC) |
| Schedule | Schedule | Schedule | Schedule |
| Roster | Roster | Roster | Roster |
| Statistics | Statistics | Statistics | Statistics |
| Match Notes | Match Notes | Match Notes |
Match Notes |
Interactive Bracket // Printable Bracket
ARIZONA VS. #20 WESTERN KENTUCKY
Date: Friday, Dec. 4
Time: 5:00 p.m. MST
Location: Provo, Utah (Smith Fieldhouse)
Stream: theW.tv
Live Stats: byucougars.com
Live Updates: Twitter (@ArizonaVBall)
THE GAMES
Friday, Dec. 4
5:00 p.m. Arizona vs. #20 Western Kentucky
7:00 p.m. Ohio at #11 BYU
Saturday, Dec. 5
7:00 p.m. Winner G1 vs. Winner G2
THIS WEEK: Rewarded for its 19-13 (9-11 Pac-12) regular season, the Arizona volleyball team earned its third consecutive at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, marking Arizona's sixth trip in the last seven years and 27th time overall. The Wildcats will travel to National No. 13 seed BYU to face first-round opponent Western Kentucky on Friday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. MST. BYU will take on Ohio with the winners meeting in the second round on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. MST. The Cats finished the season by winning two of their final three, including home victories over No. 11 UCLA and rival Arizona State. Should Arizona defeat Western Kentucky and BYU advance, the Wildcats will have a chance to avenge a second-round loss to BYU last year in Tucson.
QUICK HITS
· The Wildcats have advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 18th time in Dave Rubio's 24 years (27 overall trips), including three straight and six of the last seven years.
· Penina Snuka and Kalei Mau were named all-Pac-12 earlier this week. Snuka, receiving the honor for the second straight year, is second in the Pac-12 with 10.93 assists/set and leads the conference with 21 double-doubles. Mau is third in the conference with 4.33 kills/set.
· Tyler Spriggs was named to the Pac-12 all-freshman team. Spriggs is second on the team with 2.67 kills/set.
· Arizona's lone four-year senior Halli Amaro is set to become Arizona's all-time leader in sets played. She enters the NCAA Tournament tied for the Arizona record (451). Amaro recently became the seventh player in Arizona history to surpass 400 career blocks. The senior currently sits at 419 total blocks, sixth most in Arizona history.
· Amaro has been a part of 80 victories in her career, tied with the 2014 class for the most since the 2005 class won 81.
· Libero Laura Larson has 15 consecutive double-digit-dig matches after posting double-digit digs in just seven of Arizona's first 17 matches. After posting a career-high 27 vs. UCLA, Larson has had more than 20 in each of Arizona's final three matches (27 vs. UCLA, 25 vs. Oregon State, 23 vs. ASU). In the last 15 matches, Larson is averaging 4.37 digs/set compared to 2.29/set in the 17 matches prior.
· After beginning the season 8-0 for the fifth time in school history, Arizona has gone 11-13 in the 22 matches since, but has faced 12 top-20 teams, including eight top-10 clubs, in that span.
· UA is 18-3 against teams ranked outside of the AVCA top 15 and 1-10 against top-15 teams. Two of Arizona's three losses outside the top 15 are to Colorado, which seems to be a puzzle the Cats can't solve. In the last two seasons, Arizona is 33-1 against unranked opponents not named Colorado. And 0-4 vs. the Buffs.
· Arizona was finally able to break through against one of the nation's elite teams with a five-set victory over UCLA two weeks ago. Still, UA's 1-10 mark against the top teams in the country does not properly showcase the competitiveness of the matches. Arizona has taken 13 sets off top-15 teams and has taken eight additional sets to deuce. Arizona is just 2-8 in sets decided by two points against top-15 teams. Despite losing 10 of the 11 matches, Arizona is only being outscored by a total of 2.3 points per set in the losses (1054-952 in 45 sets).
· Forty-eight of Arizona's 121 sets have been decided by three points or fewer. Arizona is just .500 in those sets (24-24). The Cats are 45-28 (.616) in sets decided by four or more points.
· Kalei Mau, who averaged 1.27 kills/set in 2014, has 18 or more kills in 14 of her last 24 matches, including eight 20-plus-kill efforts. Her 4.33 kills/set are third in the conference.
· Penina Snuka is the only player in the Pac-12 with more than 1,300 assists (1,323) and holds the conference lead in double-doubles - 21, including 10 of the last 11 matches. Snuka led the Pac-12 in double-doubles last year with 25.
· Sixteen of Arizona's 32 opponents have hit under .160 this season, including eight under .100. Arizona held Pac-12 opponents to a .202 hitting percentage, fourth best in the conference.
· The Wildcats are one win away from their third straight 20-win season, something Arizona hasn't accomplished since 2000-2002. Prior to recording 21 (2013) and 24 (2014) wins each of the last two seasons, Arizona reached 20 victories just once in the previous seven seasons (2010; 20).
· Arizona's 64 victories (and counting) are the most in a three-year span since 2000-2002 (73).
· Despite losing its top three scorers from a season ago, including All-American Madi Kingdon who is second in school history in kills, Arizona has rebounded remarkably and has more kills than any other team in the Pac-12 (1,697).
· Coinciding with the arrival of assistant coach Gregg Whitis, who works mainly with Arizona's defensive specialists, Arizona's defense has been historic the last two seasons and looks to be picking up right where it left off. UA posted its top two digs/set figures in school history each of the last two years, leading the Pac-12 with 17.87 digs/set in 2014, breaking the school record of 17.42 digs/set in 2013. Through 32 matches this year, UA leads the conference with 16.83 digs/set.
· All-conference setter Penina Snuka is currently second in the Pac-12 in assists/set (10.93). What makes this even more impressive is that she is second on the team with 3.32 digs/set, taking her away from more than three assist opportunities every game. The junior ranks fifth in Arizona history with 3,753 assists and sixth in career digs (1,194).
· McKenzie Jacobson was in on 11 of Arizona's season-high-tying 16 blocks at Cal (11/1), a career high and the 11th-most blocks by an individual in a four-set match this season in the NCAA. They are the sixth most total blocks in a four-set match in Arizona history.
OPPONENTS
Western Kentucky: The 20th-ranked Hilltoppers (31-3, 11-1 Conference USA) have won 25 of their last 26 matches, including the Conference USA Championship entering the NCAA Tournament. Noelle Langenkamp leads the team with 3.09 kills/set on .387 hitting. The team hits .296 as a unit while limiting opponents to a .149 clip. Western Kentucky opened the season with a four-set victory over No. 5 Wisconsin in Madison.
Series History: First meeting
BYU: The 11th-ranked Cougars (26-3, 16-2 West Coast Conference) host the first and second rounds after a West Coast Conference Championship. The Cougars are the reigning national runners up after defeating Arizona in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Tucson. The Cougars average 2.90 blocks per set, led by Amy Boswell's 1.40/set. Alexa Gray dominates offensively, averaging 5.16 kills/set on .300 hitting.
Series History: The Cats and the Cougars have met 27 times in the programs' histories, but just once since 2002, last year in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. BYU has a 15-12 advantage in the series, however Arizona has won three of the last four, including a 3-0 victory in the 2000 Sweet 16 in Lincoln, Nebraska. BYU defeated Arizona in four sets in the 2014 NCAA Tournament on its way to the national championship game (full recap on page 5).
Ohio: The Bobcats (25-7, 13-3 MAC) earned an automatic bid after capturing the MAC Tournament Title. Ohio is led by Jamie Kosiorek 3.00 kills per set. Abby Gilleland runs the offense, averaging 10.82 assists/set.
Series History: Arizona won the only matchup between the two teams, a five-set victory in the 2005 Sweet 16 (35-37, 30-23, 26-30, 30-18, 15-8).
HEAD COACH DAVE RUBIO: The winningest active volleyball coach in the Pac-12, Dave Rubio is in his 24th season at the helm of the Arizona volleyball program. Rubio has led the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament in 18 of his 24 seasons as the head coach, including six of the last seven seasons. Rubio, who guided the 2000 club to a Pac-10 title and the 2001 squad to the Final Four, holds a 459-276 (.625) all-time record at Arizona.
RANKINGS: For the first time in 30 weeks, Arizona was unranked in this week's AVCA Top 25.
SCORE IN FOUR: Whether up 2-1 or down 1-2, the fourth set has proven to be imperative to determining the victor in matches that go past three sets. Arizona is 7-1 when winning the fourth set and just 3-9 when losing it. Here is the breakdown of Arizona's record when winning or losing each set:
Winning Set 1: 17-3 Losing Set 1: 2-10
Winning Set 2: 14-5 Losing Set 2: 5-8
Winning Set 3: 16-3 Losing Set 3: 4-10
Winning Set 4: 7-1 Losing Set 4: 3-9
Winning Set 5: 3-0 Losing Set 5: 0-2
SETTING THE TONE: All-conference setter Penina Snuka has excelled in her two-plus seasons as the Wildcats' setter and will be the key piece in Arizona's success in 2015. Snuka was an honorable mention All-American a season ago when she totaled 1,234 assists (10.82/set) as well as 453 digs, third in Arizona history. Snuka led the Pac-12 in double-doubles in 2014 with 25. After just two-plus seasons, Snuka is fifth in Arizona history with 3,753 assists and is Arizona's top digging setter (sixth overall) with 1,194 digs.
CAN YOU DIG IT? Arizona has excelled the last two years, posting the two best dig/set totals in school history, including a school record 17.87 last season. Laura Larson returns after spending the summer as the starting libero for Team USA in the World University Games. Arizona also welcomes three transfers (Anna Panagiotakopoulos - West Virginia, McKenna Painton - Cal State Fullerton and Mackenzie Kleespies - James Madison) all of whom were the primary liberos at their previous schools. UA has led the conference in digs each of the last two seasons.
Arizona posted the seventh-highest dig total in school history when it dug 112 balls in the season-opener vs. SMU. Five of the top 11 dig totals in Arizona history have come since the start of the 2014 season. Kalei Mau notched 31 of those digs to be named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week. Mau's 31 digs are tied for fifth in Arizona history. In school history, there have been 10 30-plus dig matches, five of which have come since the start of the 2013 season.
FRESH FACES: When Arizona takes the court there will be plenty of new faces for fans to learn. Two-thirds of Arizona's roster (12 of 18) is made up of players that will see their first action for Arizona in 2015. This includes seven freshmen, four transfers and a redshirt freshman. Arizona's eight-player recruiting class is ranked 14th nationally and includes four top-100 recruits: Sarah Dixon (30), Tyler Spriggs (37), Kendra Dahlke (49) and Meghan Buzzerio (95). The four transfers should play an even greater role as they each bring an invaluable resource to the team: experience. UA welcomes honorable mention All-American Nikki Attea from West Virginia as well as the Mountaineer's primary libero Anna Panagiotakopoulos. Additionally the Cats welcome Mackenzie Kleespies from James Madison and McKenna Painton from Cal State Fullerton, both of who18m served as the libero at their previous schools.
GLASS HONORED: Arizona alum Kim Glass (2002-05) was honored by the Pac-12 as she was selected to the conference's volleyball All-Century Team. Glass was one of 16 players selected to the team. The 2002 Pac-10 and National Freshman of the Year is Arizona's all-time leader in kills (2,151) and owns three of the top four season kill totals in Arizona history including a record 650 in 2003. Glass had 54 matches with 20 or more kills in her career, nearly double the second highest total in school history (Barb Bell – 30). She is the only Wildcat to have her jersey retired in McKale. Glass went on to help lead Team USA to a silver medal in the 2008 Olympics.
SWEET 16: PrepVolleyball.com ranked the Top 25 Division I Volleyball programs of all time, ranking Arizona 16th siting the 18 seasons Arizona has finished in the Top 25, including last year. This ranking is a credit to the work that head coach Dave Rubio has put in during his 23-plus years as the head coach at Arizona. Though there has always been high quality volleyball at Arizona, Rubio has taken things to a new level. Rubio took over a program that won four total tournament games in history and equaled that total within his first three years. In all, volleyball has been to 26 NCAA Tournaments, including five of the last six and 17 total under Rubio. Arizona has been to seven Sweet 16s, four Elite 8s and advanced to the 2001 Final Four. Arizona finished in the top five in five seasons, including a high of No. 4 in 2001.
A NEW LOOK: The Wildcats lose several key contributors from the 2014 club that will need to be replaced in 2015. In addition to the graduation of five key seniors, the Cats will also be without outside hitter Ashley Harris, who is taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. Harris, All-American Madi Kingdon and Taylor Arizobal were Arizona's primary scoring options last season, and all are gone now. UA also lost starting libero Ronni Lewis and key role players MB Rachel Rhoades and DS Kennedy Wesley.
Though the Wildcats lose a significant amount of offense, all-conference setter Penina Snuka will have plenty of options to set this season, a majority of whom are in their first season with the program. UA welcomes three freshmen outside hitters, all of whom were top-100 recruits - Kendra Dahlke, Tyler Spriggs and Meghan Buzzerio. Additionally, the Cats welcome honorable mention All-American Nikki Attea from West Virginia for her senior season. Attea totaled 292 kills on .269 hitting in 2014. Junior outside hitter Kalei Mau, who saw limited action as a sophomore, will play a large role as well.
NEW DIGS: Historic McKale Center received a roughly-$30 million facelift prior to the 2014 season. The first phase of the multi-phase renovation included brand new seats in the arena, a new court, a new state-of-the-art video board, new LED screens around the arena, upgraded concessions and bathrooms in the concourse and a new locker room complete with a lounge area and kitchenette. Head coach Dave Rubio said of the facility, “Our goal was to have the nicest, most state-of-the-art locker room in the country. I think, thanks to our administration, that is exactly what we got. It's pretty exciting and beautiful.”
ALONG FOR THE RIDE: Follow the Arizona volleyball team on its various social media accounts to keep up with the Cats all season long.
Twitter: @ArizonaVBall
Instagram: @ArizonaVBall
YouTube: Arizona Volleyball
UP NEXT: The team that goes 2-0 in Provo will advance to Lexington, Ky. for the Sweet 16.
