The Arizona volleyball squad couldn’t snag a single win at the Bluejay Invitational, capped off by a brutal 3-2 loss to Pepperdine that saw them fall short 25-17, 24-26, 25-19, 22-25, 15-11. It was a tough weekend in Omaha, and the Wildcats are clearly searching for answers early in the season.
Inconsistency Is Killing This Team
The weekend started with potential, a five-set loss to No. 10 Creighton showing what this group could do when they were locked in. But then Saturday hit, and a straight-set loss to Tulsa showed everyone just how quickly things can go completely off track. Head coach Rita Stubbs felt better about the Pepperdine match than the Tulsa one, yet even she admitted there are “obvious issues that need to be corrected.” She pointed to the team “tak[ing] plays off, take time off,” chalking it up to a new group, maturity issues, or just plain inexperience. Stubbs didn’t mince words: they “couldn’t score…in a couple rotations” against Pepperdine. The only silver lining for the Tulsa loss was the Golden Hurricanes then turning around and beating Creighton on Sunday.
Defense Told the Story, But Cisneros Fought Hard
So, what was the biggest difference against Pepperdine? The Waves’ defense, hands down. Pepperdine racked up a staggering 94 digs compared to Arizona’s 73. While Arizona actually out-blocked them 15.0 to 13.0, you just can’t overcome that kind of dig differential. Coach Stubbs mentioned that the team had a “real talk” after Saturday’s loss, revisiting their SWOT analysis and asking tough questions about whether they were actually doing what they said they wanted to do. For some players, Stubbs said, it’s “difficult to have reality right there in front of them because it’s not what they want it to be.” One player who tried to make her own reality was Carlie Cisneros. While the team struggled, Cisneros showed up, especially in passing. She pulled down 45 serve receptions, more than double any other Wildcat, and added 14 digs, trailing only libero Brenna Ginder. Cisneros also chipped in seven kills. Stubbs credited Cisneros for deciding to “be assertive, be a good passer,” and it absolutely showed. This team needs more of that fight.
The tough questions from that post-match meeting are still hanging in the air. If Arizona wants to turn this early season around, they’ve gotta figure out how to live in their strengths and play consistent volleyball, or this “winless” start is gonna become a habit.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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