LOS ANGELES – Arizona fell to USC in a five-set heartbreaker on Sunday. Arizona won the first and third sets, but the Trojans were able to force a fifth set that Arizona couldn't find momentum in.
 
Arizona's offense was led by Sofia Maldonado Diaz with 22 kills and six aces – her second match of the season recording 22 kills. Dilara Gedikoglu tallied a season best 14 kills and Jaelyn Hodge recorded 13 kills. Zyonna Fellows led Arizona's defense with six blocks.
 
Arizona won the first set, 25-22, and hit .400 in the set. The Wildcats battled back from being down 7-11 and took the lead at 13-12. Sofia Maldonado Diaz led Arizona with seven kills and two aces. Dilara Gedikoglu and Jaelyn Hodge had five kills each in the set.
 
The Trojans won Set 2, 27-25. USC took an early lead, but Arizona was able to tie the set at 16 even. The set was tied eight times before USC scored the final two points. Gedikoglu led the Wildcats with five kills in the set.
 
The Wildcats took the third set, 25-19. Arizona came from behind and went on a 12-0 run to take a 20-10 lead. Hodge had four kills and Maldonado Diaz recorded three kills in the set. The Wildcats had four blocks in the set, including back-to-back-to-back blocks – two of which were triple blocks by Fellows, Emery Herman, and Hodge.
 
USC won the fourth set, 25-22, to force a fifth set. In a back-and-forth set, Maldonado Diaz recorded five kills, but USC hit .586 in the set to overcome Arizona's offense.
 
The Wildcats fell in the fifth set, 11-15. Maldonado Diaz had four kills and Arizona had three blocks, but the Trojans took advantage of well-timed runs to win the match.
 
The Wildcats return home to host Washington on Friday, Nov. 11 at 3 p.m. MST and Washington State on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. MST.
 
Match Leaders
Kills: Sofia Maldonado Diaz – 22
Assists: Emery Herman – 45
Digs: Kamaile Hiapo – 13
Blocks: Zyonna Fellows – 6