TUCSON, Ariz. – No. 24 Arizona volleyball dropped the final match of the Cactus Classic, losing a five-set battle with Samford (22-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-18, 12-15).
 
The Cats struggled on the offensive end, hitting just .179 in the loss. Paige Whipple (14 kills) and Elizabeth Shelton (12 kills) paced UA offensively in the defeat.
 
On the defensive end, UA posted 70 digs, led by freshman Kamaile Hiapo's 15, the most of her young career. Julia Patterson, who led the Pac-12 with 20 double-doubles last season, posted her first of 2019 with 38 assists and 12 digs.
 
 
BY SET
 
Set 1 (Samford 25, Arizona 22): Arizona dropped its first set of the season, falling 25-22 in the opener. UA's defense accumulated five blocks and 20 digs in the first, but its offense hit just .071.
 
Set 2 (Arizona 25, Samford 18): Arizona responded in dominant fashion, hitting .364 in the second set, led by four kills from Paige Whipple in a 25-18 second-set win.
 
Set 3 (Samford 25, Arizona 21): Samford took the third set, outhitting Arizona .353-.143 to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
Set 4 (Arizona 25, Samford 18): Arizona cruised in the fourth, tying the match with a 25-18 victory.
 
Set 5 (Samford 15, Arizona 12): Samford used a 9-2 run early in the set and then responded to a late Arizona rally to win the set and the match.
 
CACTUS CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
 
Rosie Booth, LMU
Lauren Deaton, Samford
Shardonee Hayes, Arizona
Kelsi Hobbs, Arizona
Emma Reilly, Appalachian State
Elizabeth Shelton, Arizona
Mary Shroll, LMU
Kara Spicer, Appalachian State
 
UP NEXT
 
Arizona hits the road for the first time this season, heading San Diego for the SDSU/USD Invitational, Sept. 6-7, where they will meet defending national runner-up Nebraska on Friday and West Virginia and San Diego State on Saturday.
 
CAT CLICKS
2019 Schedule
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