TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona beat Colorado in five sets (25-21, 22-25, 21-25, 26-24, 15-12) on Saturday in McKale Center. The Wildcats hit .331 and their trio of pin hitters each tallied 16 or more kills in the victory over the Buffs.
 
Sofia Maldonado Diaz had a career day, recording career bests of 27 kills and a .543 hitting percentage to lead the Wildcats. Maldonado Diaz also led Arizona's defense with two solo blocks and was second with 13 digs.
 
Jaelyn Hodge and Jordan Wilson each had 16 kills. Hodge totaled 14 digs to lead Arizona. Ana Heath recorded a career best 55 assists and tied her career high of four kills. Alayna Johnson tallied seven kills with a .467 clip.
 
The Wildcats won Set 1, 25-21. Wilson led the attack with four kills while Hodge and Maldonado Diaz had three kills each. Arizona held the lead the whole set and held Colorado to a .139 hitting percentage to win the set.
 
Colorado took the second set, 22-25, to even the match. The Buffs hit .414 and had three blocks to hold the Wildcats to a .280 hitting percentage. Maldonado Diaz knocked down seven kills and Wilson had four kills, but it wasn't enough for Arizona to win the set.
 
The Buffs won Set 3, 21-25, for a 2-1 lead in the match. Despite Arizona hitting .353, Colorado hit .464 to overcome the Cats in the third set. Hodge and Maldonado Diaz each had six kills for Arizona.
 
Arizona won the fourth set, 26-24, to force a fifth set. The Cats won the set on a challenge by Coach Stubbs to reverse a touch call. Arizona's three pins each tallied five kills to lead the Cats to the fourth-set win. After falling behind early in the set, Arizona tied the set at 21-21 and went on a 4-0 run to end the set.
 
The Wildcats won the fifth set, 15-12, to secure the victory over the Buffs. Arizona hit .440 in the set – led by Maldonado Diaz with six kills and a .857 clip. Nicole Briggs, Heath, and Hodge each had two kills to help Arizona win the set.
 
Arizona will welcome Oregon State and Oregon next Friday and Sunday, respectively, to McKale Center.
 
Match Leaders
Kills: Sofia Maldonado Diaz – 27
Assists: Ana Heath – 55
Digs: Jaelyn Hodge – 14
Blocks: Sofia Maldonado Diaz – 2