TUCSON, Ariz. -- For the third straight match, Arizona volleyball fell down 0-2. And for the third straight match, the 24th-ranked Wildcats battled back to force a fifth set.

On Friday, Arizona's comeback bid against 14th-ranked USC came up short, as the Trojans fended off the resilient Wildcats in the fifth set to win the match, 30-28, 25-16, 21-25, 24-26, 15-11.

"It was unfortunate, we really didn't play well together," said head coach Dave Rubio. "It was remarkable that we even did as well as we did but the team was not together and I'm grasping in straws right now trying to figure out what happened.' 

Paige Whipple led the Wildcats with a season-high 21 kills; she was one of three Wildcats to record double-doubles in the match. Whipple had 21 kills and 10 digs, her ninth double-double of the season. Julia Patterson posted 48 assists and 13 digs, her ninth straight double-double and Pac-12-leading 17th overall this season. Kendra Dahlke had 16 kills and 17 digs, good for double-double No. 14 this year and No. 32 of her career.

"It was frustrating at times," said Whipple. "It was dead on the court and there was no energy. I just tried everything I could to contribute physically and tried everything I could to contribute to the team." 

UA out-dug USC, 77-76 on the night, which helped limit USC to a .199 hitting percentage in the match. But the Trojans defense, which had 12 blocks to UA's 6, held the Cats to a .153 mark offensively. Dahlke led the team with her 17 digs while Makenna Martin posted 15.

The match was UA's third straight five-setter and eighth total this season. UA is 4-4 in matches that go the distance this season. Arizona dropped to 2-7 vs. ranked teams this season and 19-10 overall (8-9 Pac-12). USC improved to 20-8, 12-5 Pac-12.

"It was disappointing," said Patterson. "We let go of an opportunity that could have solidified us into the playoffs, and disappointing after what we have been through. We will remember this taste in our mouth and will be ready to get back to the gym and be ready to beat UCLA because that's an important match for us."

The Wildcats will now turn their attention to No. 25 UCLA, which visits McKale on Sunday. The Cats and the Bruins face off at noon in what will be another opportunity for the Cats to earn a top-40 RPI win as they hope to strengthen their NCAA Tournament resume with just three matches remaining until Selection Sunday.

(S1: USC 30, Arizona 28): USC led 24-18 in the first set before Arizona ripped off six straight points to tie the opener at 24 all. The teams went back-and-forth until USC finally outlasted Arizona, 30-28 in the marathon of a first set. UA lost despite 18 kills, six from Kendra Dahlke and Paige Whipple each, and 18 digs, five from Julia Patterson. In all, UA fought off nine Trojan set points.

(S2: USC 25, Arizona 16): USC outhit Arizona .379-.212 and won the second set, 25-16.

(S3: Arizona 25, USC 21): UA bounced back with a 25-21 victory in the third to force a fourth set. The Cats outhit the Trojans .233-.182 in the frame.

(S4: Arizona 26, USC 24): The Cats held the Trojans to an .098 hitting percentage in the fourth set, and picked up five kills from Dahlke and Whipple to edge USC in the frame, 26-24.

(S5: USC 15, Arizona 11): Arizona managed just two kills in the fifth set, and USC closed it out, 15-11, to win the match.

Keep Up with the Cats
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Up Next
No. 24 Arizona will face No. 25 UCLA in the penultimate match in McKale Center on Sunday at noon. The match will be televised by the Pac-12 Network.