Arizona’s women’s volleyball squad traveled to Omaha, Nebraska, on Saturday for a non‑conference matchup against the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes. After a competitive loss to No. 10 Creighton the previous night, head coach Rita Stubbs hoped her team would rebound, but the Wildcats were swept in three straight sets, falling 5‑0 overall in the series.
Set‑by‑set recap
Tulsa opened the match by edging out Arizona 29‑27 in the first set, saving three set points for the Hurricanes. The Wildcats built a 17‑10 lead early, but Tulsa’s relentless serving and aggressive ball movement turned the tide. Tulsa’s setter Brittany Bacorn delivered 29 assists and added five kills on a .714 hitting efficiency, while also dumping the ball seven times without error, a tactic that proved decisive in the latter two sets.
The second set was a more decisive 25‑16 win for Tulsa. The Hurricanes logged 11 aces, repeatedly breaking Arizona’s serve‑receive rhythm and forcing the Wildcats into out‑of‑system attacks. Arizona’s front‑court struggled to adjust, resulting in numerous mis‑timed sets and attacks that sailed over outstretched hands.
In the third set, Tulsa closed out the match 25‑18. Tulsa’s balanced attack featured five players with at least five kills each, led by junior outside hitter Jill Hanson, who posted 12 kills on 17 attempts for a .706 hitting efficiency. Arizona could muster only three players with five or more kills, and the team’s offensive output stalled after an early 11‑11 tie.
Key performances and concerns
Arizona’s leading scorer was senior outside hitter Ndam‑Simpson, who recorded a double‑double with 13 kills and 10 digs, plus an ace for a total of 14 points. However, she also fell victim to five Tulsa aces, underscoring the serving disparity.
Coach Stubbs noted the team’s timidity and lack of readiness, saying, “We are slow to get back ready. We are too lax.” She also mentioned searching for an “Alpha” on the floor, highlighting the contributions of Brookelyn Hatton and Payton Woods, who provided a spark when subbed in. Woods posted four kills while playing only the front row, and Hatton added a kill and five digs as a defensive specialist.
Looking ahead
Despite the setback, the Wildcats will aim to bounce back Sunday when they face Pepperdine, a match that could restore confidence after back‑to‑back losses to Creighton and Tulsa. The team’s focus will be on tightening serve‑receive, improving defensive positioning, and capitalizing on the offensive opportunities that have been limited in recent games.
Fans can follow the upcoming match via ESPN+ and the Arizona Live Stats portal. The Wildcats remain 2‑3 overall in conference play and will look to climb the standings as the season progresses.
Original reporting: Arizona Desert Swarm (Tucson Sports) — read the source article.
