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#14 ARIZONA AT #6 WASHINGTON

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 7

Final: Washington 3, Arizona 1 (25-17, 22-25, 25-27, 17-25)

Recap // Box Score

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#14 ARIZONA AT WASHINGTON STATE

Date: Friday, Oct. 9

Time: 6:00 p.m. MST

Location: Pullman, Wash. (Bohler Gym)

THIS WEEK: After splitting the first two weekends of conference play, 14th-ranked Arizona, begins a four-game road trip in which the four teams have a combined 52-8 record. Already having faced five top-20 teams in an 18-day span, Arizona will now face three of the nation's top 12 teams in 11 days, beginning in the Evergreen State. UA and No. 6 Washington meet on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. before the Cats head to Pullman to take on Washington State on Friday at 6 p.m. MST. Both matches will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.

QUICK HITS

·         After beginning the season 8-0 for the fifth time in school history, the next eight matches featured four teams currently in the top 10 a fifth against an additional ranked opponent. It's been a bruising early schedule for the young Wildcats and doesn't get any easier as Arizona hits the road to take on the first (USC), sixth (Washington) and 12th (UCLA) ranked teams in addition to a 12-win Washington State team, all in an 11-day span.

·         Kalei Mau, who averaged 1.27 kills/set in 2014, has 18 or more kills in seven of Arizona's last nine matches, including five 20-plus-kill efforts. Her 5.25 kills/set in Pac-12 play top the conference.

·         The Wildcats' serve receive has been seen a drastic improvement recently. Over Arizona's first eight matches, the Wildcats allowed 1.12 aces/set. In the eight matches since then, UA has given up just 0.44 aces/set. 

·         Arizona leads the Pac-12 in digs (16.47/set) and is second in kills (14.53/set) and assists (13.38/set). Penina Snuka (11.24/set) leads the Pac-12 in assists.

·         Ten of Arizona's 16 opponents have hit under .160 this season, including six under .100. Arizona is holding its opponents to a .157 cumulative hitting percentage which is fourth in the Pac-12 and 26th nationally.

·         Arizona has not been swept since dropping a three-set decision at No. 5 Washington on Nov. 21, 2014. In the 21 matches since then, Arizona has swept 10 of its opponents.

·         The Wildcats are more than halfway to their third straight 20-win season. Prior to recording 21 (2013) and 24 (2014) wins each of the last two seasons, Arizona reached 20 victories just once in the previous seven seasons (2010; 20).

·         Despite losing its top three scorers from a season ago, Arizona has rebounded remarkably and is second in the Pac-12 in kills. Kalei Mau, who averaged 1.27 kills in her 49 sets as a sophomore in 2014, has starred in her increased role, averaging 4.56 kills/set, 13th in the country.  

·         Coinciding with the arrival of assistant coach Gregg Whitis, who works mainly with Arizona's defensive specialists, Arizona's defense has been historic the last two seasons and looks to be picking up right where it left off. UA posted its top two digs/set figures in school history each of the last two years, leading the Pac-12 with 17.87 digs/set in 2014, breaking the school record of 17.42 digs/set in 2013. Through 16 matches this year, UA leads the conference with 16.47 digs/set.

·         All-conference setter Penina Snuka currently leads the conference in assists (11.24/set) and is just outside the top 10 in digs with 3.17/set. The junior ranks sixth in Arizona history with 3,082 assists and is approaching the top 10 in digs with 976.

·         Beginning Sept. 12 vs. Ohio State, Arizona is currently in a stretch of 12 matches in which it will face six of the top nine teams in the country and seven of the top 12 in addition to No. 25 Oregon.

OPPONENTS

Washington: The fifth-ranked Huskies (13-1, 3-1 Pac-12) won their first 13 matches before falling in a four-set heartbreaker at top-ranked USC on Sunday. UW leads the conference in both hitting percentage (.323) and opponent hitting percentage (.117) as well as blocks (3.11/set). Washington is led by Lianna Sybeldon, who hits .453 (tops in the Pac-12) and blocks 1.33 balls/set.

Series History: The Huskies lead the all-time series 35-25, including each of the last seven meetings. Arizona's last victory over Washington came on Nov. 20, 2010 when the Cats took down the Huskies in four sets in Tucson. Arizona's last victory in Seattle was in 2002. Washington won both matches last season (full recap on page 4).

Washington State: The Cougars (12-4, 1-3 Pac-12) showcase an identical 12-4 record to Arizona and get the benefit of five days of preparation for the Wildcats, who will be playing their second game in three days. The Cougars lead the Pac-12 in service aces (1.79/set) against the Cats who are giving up just 0.44 aces/set in their last eight matches. The Cougars are led by Kyra Holt (4.27 kills/set).

Series History: Arizona owns a 63-15 all-time record vs. the Cougars in the programs' 78 meetings. The Wildcats have won four straight and nine of the last 10 overall, including a five-set victory in Pullman last year (full recap on page 5).

HEAD COACH DAVE RUBIO: The longest active tenured volleyball coach in the Pac-12, Dave Rubio is in his 24th season at the helm of the Arizona volleyball program. Rubio has led the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament in 17 of his 23 seasons as the head coach, including five of the last six seasons. Rubio, who guided the 2000 club to a Pac-10 title and the 2001 squad to the Final Four, holds a 452-267 (.629) all-time record at Arizona.

RANKINGS: Arizona remains ranked 14th in the AVCA Top 25. The Wildcats have been ranked as high as 13 this season (week 2). Arizona has not been ranked higher than 13th since finishing the 2005 season seventh. UA was 17th in the preseason rankings its highest preseason ranking since an identical ranking of 17th heading into the 2005 season. Arizona is one of seven Pac-12 teams in the poll. Arizona has been in 22 consecutive polls, dating back week 1 of last year, including 19 straight top-20 rankings. Arizona finished 2014 ranked 16th.

SETTING THE TONE: All-conference setter Penina Snuka has excelled in her two-plus seasons as the Wildcats' setter and will be the key piece in Arizona's success in 2015. Snuka was an honorable mention All-American a season ago when she totaled 1,234 assists (10.82/set) as well as 453 digs, third in Arizona history. Snuka led the Pac-12 in double-doubles in 2014 with 25. After just two seasons, Snuka is already sixth in Arizona history with 3,082 assists and moving quickly up the digs chart. Snuka is already 153 digs away from cracking the Arizona top 10 and 170 digs away from recording the most digs from a setter in school history.

CAN YOU DIG IT? Arizona has excelled the last two years, posting the two best dig/set totals in school history, including a school record 17.87 last season. Laura Larson returns after spending the summer as the starting libero for Team USA in the World University Games. Arizona also welcomes three transfers (Anna Panagiotakopoulos - West Virginia, McKenna Painton - Cal State Fullerton and Mackenzie Kleespies - James Madison) all of whom were the primary liberos at their previous schools. UA has led the conference in digs each of the last two seasons.

Arizona posted the seventh-highest dig total in school history when it dug 112 balls in the season-opener vs. SMU. Five of the top 11 dig totals in Arizona history have come since the start of the 2014 season. Kalei Mau notched 31 of those digs to be named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week. Mau's 31 digs are tied for fifth in Arizona history. In school history, there have been 10 30-plus dig matches, five of which have come since the start of the 2013 season.

FRESH FACES: When Arizona takes the court there will be plenty of new faces for fans to learn. Two-thirds of Arizona's roster (12 of 18) is made up of players that will see their first action for Arizona in 2015. This includes seven freshmen, four transfers and a redshirt freshman. Arizona's eight-player recruiting class is ranked 14th nationally and includes four top-100 recruits: Sarah Dixon (30), Tyler Spriggs (37), Kendra Dahlke (49) and Meghan Buzzerio (95). The four transfers should play an even greater role as they each bring an invaluable resource to the team: experience. UA welcomes honorable mention All-American Nikki Attea from West Virginia as well as the Mountaineer's primary libero Anna Panagiotakopoulos. Additionally the Cats welcome Mackenzie Kleespies from James Madison and McKenna Painton from Cal State Fullerton, both of whom served as the libero at their previous schools.

SWEET 16: PrepVolleyball.com ranked the Top 25 Division I Volleyball programs of all time, ranking Arizona 16th siting the 18 seasons Arizona has finished in the Top 25, including last year. This ranking is a credit to the work that head coach Dave Rubio has put in during his 23-plus years as the head coach at Arizona. Though there has always been high quality volleyball at Arizona, Rubio has taken things to a new level. Rubio took over a program that won four total tournament games in history and equaled that total within his first three years. In all, volleyball has been to 26 NCAA Tournaments, including five of the last six and 17 total under Rubio. Arizona has been to seven Sweet 16s, four Elite 8s and advanced to the 2001 Final Four. Arizona finished in the top five in five seasons, including a high of No. 4 in 2001.

A NEW LOOK: The Wildcats lose several key contributors from the 2014 club that will need to be replaced in 2015. In addition to the graduation of five key seniors, the Cats will also be without outside hitter Ashley Harris, who is taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. Harris, All-American Madi Kingdon and Taylor Arizobal were Arizona's primary scoring options last season, and all are gone now.  UA also lost starting libero Ronni Lewis and key role players MB Rachel Rhoades and DS Kennedy Wesley.

Though the Wildcats lose a significant amount of offense, all-conference setter Penina Snuka will have plenty of options to set this season, a majority of whom are in their first season with the program. UA welcomes three freshmen outside hitters, all of whom were top-100 recruits - Kendra Dahlke, Tyler Spriggs and Meghan Buzzerio. Additionally, the Cats welcome honorable mention All-American Nikki Attea from West Virginia for her senior season. Attea totaled 292 kills on .269 hitting in 2014. Junior outside hitter Kalei Mau, who saw limited action as a sophomore, will play a large role as well.

NEW DIGS: Historic McKale Center received a roughly-$30 million facelift prior to the 2014 season. The first phase of the multi-phase renovation included brand new seats in the arena, a new court, a new state-of-the-art video board, new LED screens around the arena, upgraded concessions and bathrooms in the concourse (still in progress) and a new locker room complete with a lounge area and kitchenette. Head coach Dave Rubio said of the facility, “Our goal was to have the nicest, most state-of-the-art locker room in the country. I think, thanks to our administration, that is exactly what we got. It's pretty exciting and beautiful.”

ALONG FOR THE RIDE: Follow the Arizona volleyball team on its various social media accounts to keep up with the Cats all season long.

Twitter: @ArizonaVBall

Instagram: @ArizonaVBall

YouTube: Arizona Volleyball

UP NEXT: Arizona remains on the road, concluding its four-match road trip next week in Los Angeles. Arizona is set to take on No. 12 UCLA on Friday, Oct. 16 before heading to top-ranked USC on Sunday, Oct. 18.