Opening night in Pac-12 volleyball was full of surprises. Arizona State upset No. 8 Washington in straight sets. California gave No. 22 UCLA a run for the money. Could Arizona shock Utah, the.
How to watch, what to expect when Arizona volleyball opens season at No. 10 Utah
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You introduce an almost completely new team. You have two players who have recently been quarantined for COVID-19. You have an international player who had difficulty getting into the U.S. Your season is postponed due to the pandemic. Your schedule is radically altered. You finally get to your first match and what’s the reward? For the Arizona volleyball team, it’s the No. 10 Utah Utes.
“If we’re gonna compete with these guys our swing percentage is going to have to be 90%,” Rubio said. “What the swing percentage means is that we’re setting a ball, and our hitters are getting up and hitting it at least 90% of the time, whether it’s in serve receive or it’s in transition. If we’re giving them free balls and down balls, it’s going to be lights out for the Cats quickly.”
Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Paige Whipple was named to the All-Pac-12 preseason team on Wednesday, the first Arizona volleyball player to earn that honor in five years.
It’s a testament to her growth as a player and person. She has developed into one of the best outside hitters in the conference while overcoming a gamut of adversity.
Whipple was thrust into a starting role as a freshman, suffered an umbilical hernia as a sophomore, and saw her team get decimated by injuries as a junior.
She now enters a senior season that has been postponed, altered and shortened due to the coronavirus pandemic. She also carries the unique distinction of being the only four-year player on the roster.
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‘We’re not very good’: Arizona volleyball falls to New Mexico State in first match since 2019
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Photo by Ryan Kelapire
Breaking in 10 new players was never going to be easy for Arizona volleyball. Throw in the adversity created by the coronavirus pandemic, and a slow start to the season was inevitable.
The Wildcats lost to the reigning WAC champion New Mexico State Aggies in five sets (25-23, 18-25, 16-25, 25-14, 19-25) on Saturday in McKale Center.
It was Arizona’s first match since Nov. 30, 2019, though only four current players were on the roster then.
Luckily, Saturday was only an exhibition.