SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- No. 20 Arizona volleyball erased an 0-2 deficit to Utah to force a fifth set, but could not complete the comeback. UA fell in five sets, 24-26, 14-25, 25-18, 25-18, 11-15.

The Wildcats lost the match despite having seven more kills (66-59), two more blocks (8-6), eight more digs (84-76) and four more assists (59-55). The Utes won the serve-pass battle, which proved to be the difference in the match. Utah had five aces to Arizona's four and the Wildcats committed 10 service errors, three more than the home team.

The loss spoiled a triumphant return by Kendra Dahlke, who played for the first time in two weeks since spraining her foot against Utah in Tucson. Dahlke finished one kill shy of her career high, with 29 kills on a career-high 83 swings, which are the seventh most attempts in a match in school history and most since Madi Kingdon's 84 vs. BYU (12/5/14). Dahlke's 29 kills are tied for the most by any Pac-12 player in a conference match this season.

Dahlke was one of three Wildcats to post double-doubles on the night. Julia Patterson added to her Pac-12 lead with 49 assists and 16 digs to go along with her two aces and two blocks; she has double-doubles in seven straight matches and 15 overall this season. Dahlke, who is second in the league with 13 double-doubles, paired her 29 kills with 14 digs, three blocks and two aces. Paige Whipple posted her eighth double-double of the year with 16 kills and 16 digs.

In all, five Wildcats had double figure digs in the match. Emi Pua'a tied her season high with 19 to lead the team and Makenna Martin had 12.

The Cats fell to 18-9, 7-8 Pac-12 while the Utes improved to 15-12, 6-9 Pac-12. Arizona now faces a key road match on Sunday when it takes on Colorado (15-11, 7-8 Pac-12) in Boulder.

(Set 1: Utah 26, Arizona 24): Arizona's offense posted 21 kills, 13 by Dahlke, in the first set, but the Cats fell 26-24 in the opening set. Utah had a .371 hitting percentage and used four aces to help win the set.

(Set 2: Utah 25, Arizona 14): Utah dominated the second set, 25-14.

(Set 3: Arizona 25, Utah 18): After Arizona's two efficient offensive performances in losses in sets 1 and 2, it was its defense that carried it to the victory in the third. UA had its first four blocks of the match and limited the Utes to -.048 hitting in a third-set win.

(Set 4: Arizona 25, Utah 18): Led by a six-kill effort from Paige Whipple and four more blocks by the UA defense, the Wildcats won the fourth set, 25-18, to force a fifth set at the Huntsman Center.

(Set 5: Utah 15, Arizona 11): Helped out by three Arizona serving errors and five attack errors, Utah won the fifth, 15-11.

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Up Next
The Wildcats will take on Colorado on Sunday in Boulder to wrap up their four-match roadtrip.