PULLMAN, Wash. - In a back-and-forth affair at Bohler Gym in Pullman, Washington, the Washington State Cougars narrowly outlasted a feisty Arizona volleyball team in five sets, defeating the 25th-ranked Wildcats 25-18, 27-29, 25-23, 21-25, 15-12.
 
"I'm obviously disappointed that we lost in five," said head coach Dave Rubio. "But I'm proud of how we competed. We didn't execute well at the end of the third or fifth sets, those were sets we certainly could have won."
 
Kalei Mau had a match for the ages, posting a career-high 31 kills, tied for 15th-most in a match in Arizona history and tied for the most of any Pac-12 player this year. Mau was set 80 times, the eighth highest total in Arizona history. The senior paired her 31 kills with 17 digs for her 11th double-double this season.
 
"Kalei was terrific," said Rubio. "She was obviously very good today. She carried us offensively for much of the match."
 
Arizona (16-12, 8-8 Pac-12) struggled with Washington State's block, as the nation's second-best unit totaled 16.5 blocks and limited Arizona to a .156 hitting percentage. But Arizona's seniors kept the Cats in the game. 
 
In addition to Mau's massive match, Penina Snuka tied her career high with 60 assists, just the second 60-plus assist in the conference this season. Meanwhile, Laura Larson set a season-high with 25 digs.
 
Arizona's middles were also impressive in the match. Devyn Cross tied a season-high with nine kills on .444 hitting with four blocks while McKenzie Jacobson notched six kills on .417 hitting with a team-high six blocks. The Wildcats had 10 blocks as a team.
 
Arizona was resilient in the match. After Washington State (19-9, 9-7 Pac-12) dominated the opening set and appeared as though the second set was heading that way as well, UA fought back to win the second. Later, after the Cougars snuck by Arizona in the third to take a 2-1 lead, the Cats came back to win the fourth to force a fifth. The Cougars edged Arizona in the fifth to secure the season sweep over Arizona.
 
Arizona struggled with the Washington State block in the first, as the Cougars put up five blocks to Arizona's zero. UA had just eight kills to go along with eight errors for a .000 hitting percentage as the Cougars won the first 25-18.
 
Washington State carried that momentum into the second, where it was dominating in the early going. Washington State led by five early and then fought off a UA run to lead by five again at 21-16. The Cats battled their way back, fighting off four Washington State set points and eventually winning a marathon of a second set, 29-27.
 
The Cougars opened the third hot, taking a 6-1 lead early. UA chipped away and tied the set at 10 apiece and eventually surged ahead late. The Cats extended to a three-point lead, their largest of the match at 22-19, but the Cougars scored six of the final seven points to steal the third, 25-23.
 
UA fought back in the fourth with Kalei Mau leading the way. The senior had six key kills, leading Arizona to a 25-21 victory.
 
In a closely-contested fifth set, it was Washington State breaking away late. After Arizona came back to tie things up at 11, Washington State scored four of the final five points to win the match in five.
 
UP NEXT: With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, Arizona hosts California (Friday) and Stanford (Sunday) at McKale Center next week.
 
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