Arizona volleyball upset No. 7 seed South Dakota State, 3-1, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to extend the Wildcats' stay in Stanford.Ìý
The Wildcats recorded 10 blocks, five of which came from senior Jordan Wilson (5), vs. South Dakota State. Arizona beat the Jackrabbits in four sets Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Unseeded UA took down the Jackrabbits in four sets (25-21, 22-25, 25-15, 25-15) on Friday and will return to Maples Pavilion to face No. 2 Stanford Saturday at 7 p.m. in the second round.
The Wildcats recorded 10 blocks, five of which came from senior Jordan Wilson, and hit .317, according to a news release.
Wilson also had 24 kills, followed by Carlie Cisneros with 18 and Sydnie Vanek with 10. Journey Tucker was close behind with nine.Ìý Â
Friday's victory marks UA's first win in the NCAA Tournament since 2016. Last year, the team was not invited but it did take home the title in the NIVC tournament.Ìý
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The winner of Saturday's game will head to the regional rounds in Austin, Texas, to face No. 3 seed Wisconsin.
Stanford beat unseeded Utah Valley 3-1 Friday.
Ahead of the trip to California, Arizona head coach Charita Stubbs praised Stanford but spoke of the need to tackle one round at a time.Ìý
“One match at a time is what we're thinking, so I’m not getting too far in advance, but we have to do scouting and Stanford's a great team,†Stubbs said. “Funny enough, I had just watched Stanford play Louisville in the ACC tournament and I text (coach) Kevin (Hambly) afterwards, congratulating him because his team grinded and battled the entire time, and that's what you expect from Stanford. That's a familiar foe in that sense and while several of the players have never been up there, they know who Stanford is."
Arizona volleyball defeated South Dakota State Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, marking the Cats' first win in the NCAA Tournament since 2016.
