LAWRENCE, Kan. – Arizona volleyball spoiled the first ever sellout in Horeji Family Volleyball Arena, sweeping the host Kansas Jayhawks (25-21, 25-21, 25-23) in their new arena in UA's first match of the Kansas Invitational in Lawrence, Kansas.
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"Any win is a good win," said head coach Dave Rubio. "We still have a lot of work to do, but winning on the road is a nice accomplishment. But now we have to get ready for Morehead State and Syracuse tomorrow."
In front of 2,265 fans in the second match ever at KU's new volleyball facility – Kansas swept Morehead State on Thursday night in the arena's grand opening – Arizona (5-2) defeated Kansas (4-3) in convincing fashion, outhitting the Jayhawks .294 to .191 in the straight-set win.
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Senior setter Julia Patterson ran led the Wildcats with her third double-double of the year (34 assists, 10 digs) while adding two aces.
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Arizona's junior outside hitter duo of Katie Smoot and Paige Whipple led the Cats offensively with 11 kills apiece.
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Senior middle blocker Devyn Cross needed just 12 swings to net eight kills (.500 hit%) and added two blocks and a dig.
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BY SET
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Set 1 (Arizona 25, Kansas 21): The Wildcats had 18 kills in the first set, hitting .263 while holding Kansas to a .179 clip. Katie Smoot led the way with six kills in the frame.
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Set 2 (Arizona 25, Kansas 21): Arizona made it a 2-0 advantage heading into intermission with another convincing 25-21 victory. Arizona hit an even .300 in the set while holding KU to a .107 mark. The Cats scored nine of the final 14 points to break away after the Jayhawks had rallied to tie the set at 16.
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Set 3 (Arizona 25, Kansas 23): In the closest set of the night, Kansas rallied from down five early to tie the third set at 21 apiece. At 22-all, a key challenge by Arizona head coach Dave Rubio reversed what was ruled as a Paige Whipple hitting error to a touch at the net, trading a one-point Wildcat deficit for a one-point lead. UA would score the final two points to sweep the match.
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UP NEXT
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Arizona wraps up the Kansas Invitational on Saturday with matches vs. Morehead State (10 a.m.) and Syracuse (5 p.m.).
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