Arizona’s women’s volleyball squad traveled to Omaha for the Bluejay Invitational hoping to snap a difficult road stretch. Instead, the Wildcats dropped a hard‑fought five‑set match to Pepperdine, 25-17, 24-26, 25-19, 22-25, 15-11.
Key moments and statistics
Pepperdine proved the more consistent side, out‑digging Arizona 94 to 73 and posting a .333 kill percentage versus the Wildcats’ .303. The Waves recorded 13.0 blocks, just shy of Arizona’s 15.0, but their defensive depth proved decisive.
Arizona’s offense generated more attacks—20 more than Pepperdine—but the Wildcats could not convert enough of those opportunities. They finished with 27 hitting errors compared to Pepperdine’s 24, and their overall hitting efficiency sat at .169.
Senior outside hitter Destiny Ndam‑Simpson posted a double‑double with 18 kills and 10 digs, though she swung at 54 attempts and recorded 12 errors for a .111 hitting percentage. Kennedy Osunsanmi added 11 kills and five total blocks, while Renee Jones contributed nine kills and six total blocks.
Freshman Carlie Cisneros shone on serve reception, handling 45 passes—more than twice any teammate—and adding 14 digs, second only to libero Brenna Ginder. Coach Rita Stubbs praised Cisneros’ assertive passing, noting it helped the team stay competitive in several crucial moments.
Coach Stubbs’ perspective
“We played better today in terms of competing,” Stubbs said after the match. “We couldn’t finish some rotations, but the discussion after Saturday’s loss helped us refocus.” She highlighted the team’s SWOT analysis and candid locker‑room talk as positive steps toward growth.
Stubbs also addressed the team’s inconsistency, describing their play as sometimes “hesitant” and “tentative.” She emphasized the need for the Wildcats to translate effort into efficient scoring, especially against high‑caliber opponents.
Looking ahead
The loss leaves Arizona winless at the Invitational, but the road trip continues through September. The Wildcats will face No. 15 USC next, another ranked opponent, before concluding their travel schedule later in the month.
“Our schedule is competitive, and we know that,” Stubbs affirmed. “We have to keep finding ways to compete every single time. There’s no let‑up. Go to USC and keep fighting.”
Original reporting: Arizona Desert Swarm (Tucson Sports) — read the source article.
