TUCSON, Ariz. - Arizona took seventh-ranked Washington to four sets, losing by two in pair of sets, but fell to the Huskies (26-24, 23-25, 28-26, 25-20).
 
Kalei Mau had 23 kills and 20 digs in the match to lead the Wildcats, while Laura Larson tallied a season-high 23 digs, but their efforts weren't enough as the Huskies prevailed in four.
 
Mau's 23-kill, 20-dig match was her first 20-20 match of her career. Mau has 17 double-doubles in her career, six of which have come this season.
 
Penina Snuka also notched a double-double, her 14th of the season, including one in five straight matches. Snuka had 54 assists and 13 digs.
 
The Cats kept it close for the majority of the match, matching the Huskies nearly point for point. The first three sets were all decided in deuce, with Washington finding ways to put away sets where Arizona could not. 
 
Arizona out-dug and out-killed the Huskies, 77-61 and 62-60, respectively.
 
It was at the net that Washington dominated. The Huskies blocked 17 of Arizona's attempts, compared to just 5.5 blocks for the Cats. Crissy Jones had 12 blocks to go along with 14 kills. UW middle blocker Kara Bajema had 12 kills on .733 hitting. 
 
Despite the offense posting 19 kills on .293 hitting in the first set, Arizona dropped the opening set 26-24. Washington notched six blocks and three aces to Arizona's zero combined.
 
Washington surged in front to start the second set, leading by as many as seven early on. After Arizona cut the lead to two, Washington ripped off three straight points to take a 19-14 lead. Arizona scored seven of the next eight points to take the lead. Kalei Mau had six kills in the set, including the final three that gave Arizona a 25-23 win in the second.
 
The once again erased a large deficit in the third, coming back from down five to take a 21-20 lead. The Cats would earn a pair of set points, but could not convert either as Washington outlasted Arizona, 25-23.
 
The Cats ran out of gas in the fourth. Washington won 25-20.
 
UP NEXT: Arizona will face Oregon and Oregon State on the road to start the second half of Pac-12 play this week.
 
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