TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona fell in three sets to No. 16 Utah on Friday afternoon. Jaelyn Hodge and Sofia Maldonado Diaz each recorded double-digit kills, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Utes.
 
Junior Kamaile Hiapo reached the 1,000 career dig mark in the third set, making her the third Wildcat to reach 1,000 digs in three years and 17th to reach 1,000 digs in program history.
 
Set 1 | Arizona - 9, Utah - 25
The first set opened with both teams exchanging points, until Utah found their momentum to pull away and win 25-9. Emery Herman stopped one of Utah's runs with a dump kill followed by a service ace late in the set, but Utah scored four consecutive points to win the set.
 
Set 2 | Arizona - 24, Utah - 26
The Cats came back strong in the second set, forcing the set into extra points. Hodge and Maldonado Diaz each had six kills to lead Arizona's attack. Arizona held the lead for most of the set until the final four points when Utah pulled ahead to take a 2-0 lead in the match. The Cats' defense slowed Utah's offense with two block assists from Maldonado Diaz, Herman, Zyonna Fellows, and Merle Weidt.
 
Set 3 | Arizona - 22, Utah - 25
Utah won the final set 25-22. Hodge knocked down six kills again, followed by Maldonado Diaz and Puk Stubbe who each had four kills. The Wildcats took an early lead in the third set before Utah went on a five-point run to carry the lead the rest of the set. Weidt recorded a block solo and Fellows and Hodge combined on a block assist to keep the Cats within striking distance, but the Utes kept their momentum going to win the match.
 
Match Leaders
Kills: Jaelyn Hodge - 12
Assists: Emery Herman - 29
Digs: Kamaile Hiapo - 8
Blocks: Zyonna Fellows - 3
 
The Cats will host Colorado on Sunday, Nov. 14 at 12 p.m. MST before hitting the road for three-straight road games starting on Friday, Nov. 19 at USC.