After Arizona volleyball swept his team, Pacific head coach Greg Gibbons had kind words for the Wildcats.
Gibbons said the Wildcats, who beat Pacific 3-0 (26-24, 25-19, 25-17) on Saturday in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship’s Super 16, deserved to be in the NCAA tournament and were better than half of the teams in the Big Dance’s field.
UA head coach Charita Stubbs said it was hard to hear.
“He shared that with me before the match and you never know if people are telling you that because, you know, it’s like, ‘Oh woe is you’ or kind of to get you distracted or whatnot,” Stubbs said. “But I like Greg, I think he’s a great guy and I just can’t be sad about that and be happy that we’re actually in this position, so maybe after (it’s) all over and done, I’ll sit back and waddle and cry.”
After missing out on the NCAA tournament, the Wildcats (21-9) won their eighth straight match.
Jordan Wilson (5) — TUCSON, ARIZ. — Volleyball vs. Pacific in the Second Round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship in McKale Center. Dec. 7, 2024.
“I thought we played hard, I think Arizona did something to disrupt what we wanted to do, they’re a physical team, I think they’re very good,” Gibbons said. “I am grateful to these girls and this team because I thought that they came out and competed, but I thought the mistakes we were making — well Arizona caused those mistakes — and I thought the girls came out ready to play and it’s just Arizona had something else to say about that.”
The No. 3 seeded Tigers upset No. 2 seed Weber State 3-2 (25-23, 22-25, 25-19, 12-25, 15-11) on Friday in the first round in McKale. UA had a bye in the first round.
With the win, Arizona moved on to the NIVC’s Great 8 and will host Wyoming (17-12) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Cowgirls beat Utah Valley 3-2 (25-20, 21-25, 23-25, 25-22, 15-12) on Friday at home in the Super 16.
After getting snubbed by the NCAA selection committee, UA freshman setter Avery Scoggins said they already figured out when the next selection show will be, Nov. 30 2025.
“At first, we were mad, disappointed, like everybody was,” Scoggins said. “I mean, there’s no feeling to describe how it felt in that room, it was just like, kind of a shocker, so we really talked about the future, we talked about (how) we’re gonna work hard every single practice, we’re gonna get so much better, we’re gonna do the little things that no one sees and then they’ll see it in the games.”
Stubbs said they have already put together a spreadsheet of all the teams that did make it into the NCAA tournament and their résumés to try and schedule better.
On Saturday, Pacific (19-13) started the first set on a 5-0 run. UA went on a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the match, going up 19-16. Pacific then tied it up at 20-20. It was tied at 22, 23 and 24 before the Wildcats pulled away.
UA junior outside hitter Jordan Wilson led the way with 11 kills. Fifth year outside hitter Jaelyn Hodge had 8 kills and 4 blocks for the Wildcats.
“Everything about it was rough in the beginning, you know, we were down six,” Stubbs said. “And with two attacking errors in there and when that happens, that’s not the norm, so you know it’s the nerves and just getting acclimated and you know, just kind of calm them down a little bit.”
Avery Scoggins (6), Journey Tucker (22) — TUCSON, ARIZ. — Volleyball vs. Pacific in the Second Round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship in McKale Center. Dec. 7, 2024.
Pacific led the second set 3-2 and it was 4-4, 13-13 and 14-14 before Arizona pulled away. UA had 4 aces in the set and 9 in the match.
Pacific led the third set 1-0 after a service error but UA went on a 5-0 run to build up a lead that they maintained to get the sweep.
The Wildcats’ win streak began on Nov. 8 when they beat No. 8 Kansas 3-2 (25-20, 21-25, 27-29, 25-20, 15-13). They had a players’ only meeting after Kansas State swept them (26-28, 17-25, 18-25) the match before.
“I feel like the win over Kansas really just kind of opened a box, like it really opened our eyes and our accountability switch, our intensity switch,” Scoggins said. “That was disappointing last (Selection) Sunday, but that doesn’t mean that everything stops.”
On Wednesday at 3 p.m. Northern Colorado (27-7) and Arkansas State (28-5) will face off in the Great 8 at McKale with the winner playing the Wildcats or Wyoming. UA beat UNCO 3-1 in an exhibition in August (19-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-21).
Arizona improved their non-conference record to 12-0.
Stubbs said senior middle blocker Kiari Robey won’t play in the tournament as she is “preparing herself for her professional career.” Robey is fourth on the team in kills and started the first 29 matches.
