It was a season for the record books in 2016 for the Arizona volleyball team, which advanced to the program's first Sweet 16 in 11 years and accomplished a handful of impressive and historical feats along the way.
 
Led by a stellar senior class, Arizona won 20 matches in 2016, including eight against ranked opponents, while navigating one of the most difficult schedules in the country. Arizona's opponents went 508-259 (.662), the sixth-hardest schedule in the country. The Wildcats battled an onslaught of injuries early in the season, which, in part, led to an inauspicious 0-3 start to the year in the Wahine Invitational in Honolulu, Hawaii, and an 0-5 mark against the first five ranked opponents they faced.
 
But as Arizona became healthy, things began to change.
 
In their final 13 matches against ranked opponents of the season, the Wildcats went 8-5 (.615), including their first-ever season sweep of both USC and UCLA and a road victory at eventual national champion Stanford, marking Arizona's first win over Stanford since 2005. UA's eight victories over ranked teams marked the most in a season since 2005 as well.
 
Arizona was rewarded for its 18-14 regular season with its fourth straight NCAA Tournament berth, and a trip to East Lansing, Michigan to face Cleveland State in the first round. UA swept the Vikings to set up a meeting with ninth-seeded Michigan State on its home floor in the second round. Arizona took down the Spartans in a dramatic five sets to earn a trip to the program's eighth Sweet 16, where the Cats would fall to eighth-seeded Washington in Lincoln, Nebraska.
 
Arizona's senior class inked its place in history, winning 83 games over four years, making it the winningest senior class at Arizona since 2003. Penina Snuka and Laura Larson, Arizona's two four-year seniors, went to four NCAA Tournaments, a first at UA since the 2005 class.
 
Snuka wrapped up one of the best careers in Arizona history, and will be remembered amongst the best to ever play at Arizona. Snuka was named Pac-12 Setter of the Year after leading the Pac-12 in total assists for the second straight year, totaling 1,307 assists during the regular season, helping her surpass the 5,000 career assist mark, just the second player in Arizona history, and 13th in the conference, to do so. Snuka averaged 10.77 assists and 3.02 digs per set while leading the team in service aces (35) this year. The senior had 21 double-doubles this year, tied for first in the Pac-12, marking the fourth year Snuka either led or tied for the league lead in double-doubles.
 
Snuka leaves Arizona second in school history in both career assists (5,212) and career digs (1,610) and the all-time leader in sets played (489).
 
Snuka and Kalei Mau were named third-team AVCA All-Americans in their final go-around, marking the first time since 2005 that Arizona had multiple All-Americans.
 
Mau, who transferred to Arizona as a sophomore, was a dominant force in her final two seasons in Tucson. In 2016, Mau was second in the Pac-12 in kills/set (4.07). Mau, who battled injury all year, enjoyed a late-season surge to become one of the most effective hitters in the conference. Mau leaves Arizona sixth in Arizona history in career kills per set (3.68) and sixth in 20-plus-kill career matches (15).
 
Larson wrapped up her career by posting one of the best back-row seasons in Arizona history. Her 505 digs in 2016 are the second most in a season in UA history, giving her 1,228 for her career, fifth most in Arizona history. Larson, also a stud in the classroom, was named 2016 Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year. Larson, who played in every match in Arizona career, a school record 136, has a 3.968 GPA while majoring in molecular and cellular biology.
 
In addition to their senior leadership, the Wildcats relied on their solid defense and tough serving. UA finished third in the conference in digs/set (15.66) and second in aces/set (1.16). Mau and sophomore Kendra Dahlke represented the best offensive duo in the Pac-12, with Mau finishing second in the Pac-12 with 4.07 kills/set and Dahlke fourth with 3.97 kills/set.
 
Arizona finished the season 20-15 overall and 10-10 in the Pac-12, which put eight teams in the NCAA Tournament. The 20 victories marked Arizona's 15th 20-win season, and third in the last four years. The Cats ended the season ranked No. 20 in the AVCA Top 25.
 
CATS AT A GLANCE

• Arizona was one of four unseeded teams in this year's Sweet 16 after its road upset of eighth-seeded Michigan State.
• Arizona has been to four straight NCAA Tournaments, and 28 overall. Head coach Dave Rubio has led the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament in 19 of his 25 seasons.
• 2016 marked Arizona's 13th trip to the Regional Semifinal in program history, eight of which have occurred under head coach Dave Rubio, who is in his 25th season with Arizona.
• Penina Snuka was named Pac-12 Setter of the Year after leading the conference in total assists for the second straight year (1,433). Snuka averages 10.77 assists and 3.02 digs per set and led the Pac-12 in double-doubles (21) for the fourth straight year.
• Seniors Penina Snuka and Kalei Mau were named AVCA All-Americans. Mau finished second in the conference in kills (4.07/set) after finishing third last year (4.33/set).
• Laura Larson was named Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year. Larson, whose 505 digs this season are second in Arizona history, has a 3.968 GPA while majoring in molecular and cellular biology. Larson finished seven digs shy of Candace Nicholson's school-record 512 digs in 2013.
• Arizona finished the regular season with eight RPI Top 50 wins, more than all but seven teams in the country.
• Arizona played 18 matches vs. ranked opponents this season. After starting the year 0-5 vs. ranked competition, the Cats won eight of their last 13 vs. ranked opponents. Those eight wins, all in the last 10 weeks of the season, were the most in a season since 2005 for Arizona.
• Much of the reason Arizona turned things around can be traced to its health. Arizona's top three scorers (Kendra Dahlke - concussion; Kalei Mau - dislocated shoulder & slipped disc; Katarina Pilepic - broken finger) all missed extended time this year. The trio were in the starting lineup together just 22 times this season, including the last 19 matches.
• After leading the Pac-12 in digs each of the last three seasons, Arizona is third this year, averaging 15.67 digs/set. Laura Larson was ninth in the Pac-12, averaging 3.80 digs/set.
• Kendra Dahlke and Kalei Mau finished in the top four in the Pac-12 in kills, making them the best offensive duo in the Pac-12. Mau was second with 4.07 kills/set while Dahlke is fourth with 3.97 kills/set. No other team in the conference had two players in the top 10.
• Arizona's success this season can be traced to where it all starts: serve and pass. In Arizona's 20 wins, UA is averaged 1.41 aces/set while in losses, the Cats are averaging just 0.85 per set. Additionally, in losses the Cats have allowed 1.05 aces/set compared to just 0.72/set in victories. Arizona has 130 service errors in its 15 losses.
• Arizona's regular season opponents went 429-239 (.642), making the Wildcats' schedule the sixth hardest in the country.
• Kendra Dahlke is enjoying a breakout campaign in her sophomore year. After averaging 1.57 kills/set as a freshman with four double-digit kill matches, Dahlke is second on the Wildcats with 3.95 kills/set and has had 10-or-more kills in 28 of the 32 matches she has played in. Dahkle is fourth in the Pac-12 in kills.
• 2016 marked the 25th season as the head coach of the Wildcats for Dave Rubio, the conference's active leader in victories as a Pac-10/12 coach (479).

 
RANKINGS: Arizona finished the season ranked No. 20 in the AVCA Top 25.
 
SETTING THE TONE: Pac-12 Setter of the Year Penina Snuka excelled in her four seasons as the Wildcats' setter. Snuka was been a third-team All-American in 2016 after receiving honorable mention honors in 2014 and 2015. Snuka led the Pac-12 (or tied for the lead) in double-doubles in each of her four seasons at Arizona (2013 - 19, 2014 - 25, 2015 - 22, 2016 - 21). Snuka is second in Arizona history with 5,212 assists and is Arizona's top digging setter (second overall) with 1,610 digs.
 
CAN YOU DIG IT? After leading the conference in digs each of the last three years, Arizona finished third this year, averaging 15.67 digs/set. Laura Larson was ninth in the league, averaging 3.80 digs/set. The senior had double-digit digs in 46 of her final 50 matches at Arizona's. Larson's 505 digs this season rank second in a season in Arizona history, seven behind Candace Nicholson's UA-record 512 in 2013.
 
WHAT SOPHOMORE SLUMP? After averaging 1.57 kills/set as a part-time player in 2015, Kendra Dahlke burst onto the scene in a big way as a sophomore. Dahlke is second on the team with 3.97 kills/set and has had double-digit kills in 28 of the 32 matches she played in. In 2015, she had four total double-digit kill efforts. Dahlke was fourth in the Pac-12 in kills/set and sixth in points/set (4.37).
 
PUTTING THE TEAM ON HER BACK: In the 60 matches that Kalei Mau played in since the start of 2015, she led the team (or tied for the team lead) in kills in 45 of those matches. Mau's 15 20-plus kill matches in that span rank sixth in a career in Arizona history.
 
ACE IN THE HOLE: Arizona was second in the Pac-12 with 1.16 aces per set after finishing in the bottom third of the conference each of the last three years. The Wildcats' 154 aces are 50 more than their 2015 total. Seven Wildcats have double digit aces: Penina Snuka (35), Laura Larson (25), Kalei Mau (21), Reilly Killeen (16), Makenna Martin (15), Kendra Dahlke (13) and Katarina Pilepic (11).
 
PERFECT 10: Arizona's 2016 recruiting class was ranked as the 10th best class in the country by PrepVolleyball.com. The Cats have seven freshmen, including two top-100 recruits (#60 Shardonee Hayes & #67 Julia Patterson).
 
A CLASS OF THEIR OWN: Arizona's senior class won 83 matches, making it the winningest in Arizona history since the 2003 class won 90. These seniors also qualified for four NCAA Tournaments, the first time since the 2005 class capped off Arizona's run of 10 straight NCAA Tournaments.
 
FOLLOW THE CATS: Get a behind-the-scenes look at the Arizona volleyball team on its various social media accounts to keep up with the Cats all offseason long.
 
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