The ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ volleyball team clinched the first championship in program history Tuesday night.
The UA defeated Bowling Green in five sets to win the National Invitational Volleyball Championship in front of an announced crowd of 2,696 at McKale Center.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ libero/defensive specialist Haven Wray hoists the trophy after the Wildcats came back twice to eventually get by Bowling Green 3-2 in the championship game of the NIVC on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, at McKale Center.
The Wildcats fell behind, two sets to one, before rallying for the victory. The UA won the fourth set 25-18 and the fifth 15-9.
NIVC Most Valuable Player Jaelyn Hodge had a match-high 25 kills. Jordan Wilson added 19 kills, while Avery Scoggins had 54 assists. Wilson and Scoggins were named to the all-tournament team.
Carlie Cisneros had a team-high 19 digs, and Journey Tucker had a match-high eight blocks.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, you showed up,†second-year UA coach Charita Stubbs told the crowd amid the post-match celebration. “Thank you for your support. I’m telling you right now, we’re on to something big and strong.
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“Thank you for sticking with us through that stretch when it wasn’t so good. Once again, as one, we bear down!â€
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ (24-9) ended the season on an 11-match winning streak.
Photos: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ downs Bowling Green 3-2 in the NIVC championship match
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ opposite An den Hamer (23) gets her high-fives running though the line of her teammates after the Wildcats scrapped back twice to beat Bowling Green 3-2 in the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ outside hitter Carlie Cisneros, right, grabs coach Charita Stubbs as the Wildcats celebrate their 3-2 win in the championship game of the NIVC over Bowling Green on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, at McKale Center.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ libero/defensive specialist Haven Wray hoists the trophy after the Wildcats came back twice to eventually get by Bowling Green 3-2 in the championship game of the NIVC on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, at McKale Center.
The Wildcats record some celebratory video in the aftermath of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s 3-2 win against Bowling Green in the championship game of the NIVC on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, at McKale Center.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ coach Charita Stubbs has some pointers for the Wildcats in the fourth set against Bowling Green in the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ defensive specialist Ava Tortorello (14) dives in to dig out a Bowling Green attack in the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ libero/defensive specialist Brenna Ginder (3) chases down a carom into the sidelines against Bowling Green in the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ outside hitter Jordan Wilson (5), left, and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ libero/defensive specialist Haven Wray (8) get crossed digging out a Bowling Green spike in the fourth set in the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ libero/defensive specialist Haven Wray (8) and the Wildcats celebrate a point in the fifth tie-breaking match against Bowling Green in the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ outside hitter Jordan Wilson (5) fires a spike into Bowling Green setter Amanda Otten (11) in first set of the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s bench gets up and loud as the Wildcat build a lead in the tiebreaker set against Bowling Green in the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ libero/defensive specialist Giorgia Mandotti (15) and the Wildcats get warmed up to face Bowling Green in the championship game of the NIVC at McKale Center on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ outside hitter Jaelyn Hodge gets the honor of placing the last sticker on the bracket board signifying the Wildcats' win over Bowling Green in the NIVC championship on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, at McKale Center.
Bowling Green defensive specialist Sydnie Hernandez (1) comes up short trying to save an ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ spike in the fifth set of the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ setter Avery Scoggins (6), eft, and outside hitter Jaelyn Hodge (11) bump one another to get to a Bowling Green spike in the fourth set in the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ middle blocker Journey Tucker (22) watches her block drop on the Bowling Green side of the net in the second set of the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ outside hitter Carlie Cisneros (12) dinks a shot over Bowling Green middle blocker Alexis Mettille (16), left, and setter Amanda Otten (11) in the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ outside hitter Jordan Wilson (5) sprawls out in pursuit of a Bowling Green spike in the first set in the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ outside hitter Carlie Cisneros (12) rifles a spike off the hands of Bowling Green setter Amanda Otten (11) in the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ outside hitter Jordan Wilson (5) goes up on defense of a Bowling Green attack in the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
A Bowling Green spike gets smothered by ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ setter Avery Scoggins, left, and middle blocker Alayna Johnson in the championship game of the NIVCÂ on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, at McKale Center.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ setter Avery Scoggins (6) tees up middle blocker Adrianna Bridges (13) against Bowling Green in the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ outside hitter Jaelyn Hodge, left, and outside hitter Jordan Wilson exult in a Wildcat point late in the tiebreaker set against Bowling Green in the championship game of the NIVC on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, at McKale Center.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ outside hitter Jordan Wilson (5) finds a seam on a spike in the first set against Bowling Green in the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ outside hitter Jaelyn Hodge (11) opts for the soft shot over Bowling Green middle blocker Alexis Mettille (16) in the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ outside hitter Jaelyn Hodge (11), left, and middle blocker Journey Tucker (22) throw up the defense against Bowling Green in the opening set of the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ outside hitter Jaelyn Hodge (11) attacks against Bowling Green in the second set of the championship game of the NIVC, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., December 17, 2024.
Contact sports reporter/columnist Michael Lev at mlev@tucson.com. On X (Twitter): @michaeljlev. On Bluesky: @michaeljlev.bsky.social
Michael Lev
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