Things could have been worse for the No. 17 Arizona volleyball team during its weekend trip to Hawaii, but they also could have been much better.
The Wildcats salvaged one out of three matches at the Rainbow Wahine Classic, held in Honolulu, Hawaii. Arizona fell to host Hawaii and San Diego on consecutive days after taking the opener from Eastern Washington Friday night.
Sunday's game against No. 13 Hawaii was a nail biter as Arizona came from behind to even the match at four games after trailing 2-0. But the Wildcats failed to pull off the victory, falling to the Rainbow Wahine in the fifth and deciding game (24-30, 31-33, 30-26, 30-26, 11-15).
Although Arizona led Hawaii in kills (81 to 73), assists (78 to 68) and digs (88 to 62), the Wildcats managed only four service aces compared to nine by the Rainbow Wahine.
Sophomore setter Stephanie Butkus earned her second double-double of the season as she contributed 72 assists - the seventh-highest total in Wildcat history - and 16 digs. Junior outside hitter Jennifer Abernathy commanded the Arizona defense with 24 kills and 10 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Meghan Cumpston also recorded her second double-double of the year with 19 kills and a match-high 23 digs.
Just a day earlier, Arizona was overmatched by unranked San Diego, as the Wildcats failed to win a game against the Toreros, falling 17-30, 16-30, 24-30.
The Wildcats were outdone by the Toreros in almost every statistical category including kills (33 to 51), hitting percentage (.139 to .315), assists (31 to 49), service aces (2 to 7) and digs (32 to 61).
On Friday, Arizona defeated Eastern Washington in a 3-1 win (31-29, 30-21, 25-30, 30-22) in the first game of the tournament.
The Wildcats produced three double-doubles, while the team hit .233 collectively and out-blocked the Eagles 14 to 6.5.
Cumpston had a match-high 17 kills, accompanied by 13 digs and four blocks. Abernathy netted 14 kills on .333 hitting, in addition to 14 digs and three blocks, while Butkus managed 38 assists to go along with 14 digs, seven kills and four blocks.
The Wildcats will next host the Four Points University Plaza Wildcat Classic, as they take on Nicholls State in their home opener Friday at 10 a.m.