Arizona

Serve receive dooms Arizona volleyball in straight-set loss to Utah

Published

1 year ago

October 4, 2024

Serve receive dooms Arizona volleyball in straight-set loss to Utah

Call it a letdown. Call it an unusual start time. Or just call it a poor outing. If Arizona volleyball had a great start against No. 20 BYU on Wednesday night, it was just as slow on early Friday afternoon. Utah dominated almost every facet of the game in a 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 27-25) victory.

The loss may have been a letdown after the thrilling win over a ranked opponent less than 48 hours before, but Arizona head coach Rita Stubbs had one message for her team after it was over.

“That we were still a family, that we were still one, and we’re all in this all together,” she said.

The noon start time was to accommodate Arizona men’s basketball’s Red-Blue game on Friday evening. The Wildcats invited local kids to the match for their first kids’ day.

The crowd eventually filled McKale Center to its usual degree, but it took a while for everyone to straggle in. The full crowd wasn’t in their seats until about 30 minutes after the match started.

Maybe that was for the best. Arizona played Utah close until 14-13 in the opening set, although the Wildcats struggled on the attack throughout the first. They didn’t score again and ended the set with just five kills. The Utes went on an 11-0 run to take the 1-0 lead in the match.

“They had a scouting report against us, and they came out and did it,” Stubbs said. “And we tried to hit around the block too often. They made sure that our middles did not get good swinging opportunities.”

The Utes’ domination wasn’t just in the first set. While Arizona made it close in the 25-23 second set, the stats were wildly in Utah’s favor throughout the match. The Wildcats did get two set points in the final set, but they couldn’t convert. Utah put away its first match point.

The Utes were superior in almost every statistical category. They had 50 kills to the Wildcats’ 38. They hit .364 compared to UA’s .259. They had 11 aces versus four for the home team. Their 53 digs outpaced Arizona’s 42. The lone category the Wildcats won was blocks with 7.0 compared to 4.0, but they also had more blocking errors (2 to 0).

All of that played into the loss, but serve receive was the Wildcats’ biggest problem.

“It was bad,” Stubbs said. “There’s no ‘kinda’ about it.”

Both freshman outside hitter Carlie Cisneros and freshman libero Brenna Ginder struggled in serve receive. Arizona was aced 11 times. Cisneros took five of the receiving errors and both Ginder and defensive specialist Haven Wray took two.

“That was the first time we’ve seen Carlie struggle in serve receive, and that’s her thing, so what was her mindset?” Stubbs said. “Unfortunately, we never know how she’s going to handle or adapt to something that you’ve never seen. So, there was no blame to be placed in any particular area but the serve and pass game we lost.”

Fifth-year opposite Jaelyn Hodge tried to find ways to help her rookie teammate through it.

“I think just taking more court in the back row—she’s fine on defense—and just helping take more serve receive and telling her what shots are open,” Hodge said. “I know if you struggle in one thing, it kind of leaves your mind struggling in different areas.”

While the other two pins continued to struggle scoring after the opening set, Hodge got things going as the match progressed. She had her second straight great match and the third quality outing in the last four. She finished with 18 kills on .400 hitting. She also had a block assist and an ace for 19.5 points.

“Pleased with Jae,” Stubbs said. “She took the team and she said, ‘I’m gonna take the team and put them on my back and then carry them.’ She was 18 (kills) four (errors) for 35 (attempts), and it was two matches back to back where she played top-notch volleyball so very happy with her.”

If there was anything Hodge struggled with it was serving. While she had the ace, she also had two service errors. Late in the match, Stubbs began sending defensive specialist Giorgia Mandotti in to serve for Hodge.

It was nothing specific to Hodge, though. As a team, the Wildcats didn’t serve as strong as Stubbs would have wanted. It reminded her of the Baylor match in that regard.

“I don’t know that it was the (Utah) offense as much as the fact that we did not serve very tough so they were able to run whatever they wanted to run,” Stubbs said. “That is the second match that’s very vivid in my head that they’ve been able to just run the middle at us because we didn’t serve very well. So any time a team can run the middle as easily as they were in the middle, it means you didn’t serve well.”

Stubbs tried personnel changes to get Arizona on the right track, including using Mandotti to serve. Late in the first set, she played two defensive specialists and the libero in the back row, removing both Hodge and Wilson from the match. In the second set, she sent junior setter Ana Heath in for freshman Avery Scoggins, but she had to go back to Scoggins in the final set when Heath got hurt.

“Hopefully she’s all right,” Stubbs said. “She hurt her ankle a little bit, but nonetheless, it was nice to see that you can pull someone off the bench, and go in and make a difference out there…She probably would have stayed out there had she not hurt her ankle.”

If Heath is out for any length of time, she would join backup OH/OPP Sydnie Vanek and DS Ava Tortorello both of whom have been out for a few weeks. Stubbs said on Tuesday that she expected Tortorello to be out for a while still, but Vanek might be back sooner.

Whoever is available will be taking on Arizona’s fifth straight opponent that is either ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA poll when they travel to play No. 15 ASU on Wednesday. Utah is the only unranked team the Wildcats have played since the Big 12 schedule started, but the Utes are receiving votes from the coaches.

Lead photo by Reagan Helfer / Arizona Athletics

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Arizona

Trump issues rare dual endorsement in Arizona swing district

Published

2 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Trump issues rare dual endorsement in Arizona swing district

The president praised both Jay Feely and Gina Swoboda as “Highly Respected America First Patriots.”
The president’s team had not publicly confirmed his endorsement of Swoboda before the Jan. 6 social media post.
The district, which includes wealthy pockets of Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, and north Phoenix, has a hot-and-cold relationship with the president.

President Donald Trump endorsed not one but two Republicans in a highly watched Arizona congressional primary, boosting a new candidate after his first pick met resistance from some in the GOP.

In a Jan. 6 social media post, Trump said he was backing Jay Feely, a former Cardinals kicker and sports commentator who recently switched his campaign into Arizona’s Scottsdale-area 1st Congressional District, in addition to Gina Swoboda, the state GOP chair whose candidacy has divided Republicans despite her securing Trump’s support in October.

The president praised both Feely and Swoboda as “Highly Respected America First Patriots.”

“JAY OR GINA WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” he wrote on Truth Social, the social media platform he owns.

The announcement is a blow to Swoboda, a polarizing figure among Arizona Republicans. Her longtime rivalry with Turning Point, the network of conservative advocacy groups founded by the late activist Charlie Kirk, has shadowed her candidacy, prompting attacks and infighting among Arizona Republicans.

The president’s team had not publicly confirmed his endorsement of Swoboda before the Jan. 6 social media post.

In an interview with The Arizona Republic, Feely said he thought the endorsement came back to his “friendship” and shared values with the president.

“I love what he’s doing. I believe in what he’s doing. I’m committed to the same principles that he and his administration have,” Feely said.

“We wish Gilbert resident Jay Feely well in his latest campaign for Congress, but nothing has changed,” Swoboda campaign consultant Chris Baker shot back in a written statement to The Republic. “Gina Swoboda will be the Republican nominee in AZ01.”

The endorsement will also set back two other high-profile GOP candidates in the race, the ultra-conservative state Rep. Joseph Chaplik and businessman John Trobough, who both told The Republic they, too, had been in touch with the White House.

Though Trump’s endorsement will be a boon in the Republican primary, it could become a liability in the general election. The district, which includes wealthy pockets of Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, and north Phoenix, has a hot-and-cold relationship with the president.

National GOP leaders encouraged him to run in Scottsdale, Feely says

Feely initially launched his campaign in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District, which includes much of Chandler, Queen Creek and Gilbert, where he lives with his family. He billed himself as a home-grown candidate with a “heart to serve,” and a MAGA devotee who has a personal relationship with Trump.

His prospects in that district dimmed after the president endorsed one of his opponents, Mark Lamb, the well-known former sheriff of Pinal County. Early polling showed Lamb with a large advantage in the race.

But Trump took a liking to Feely, encouraging the former football player in a November social media post to “run in a different district, or for a different office.”

Feely followed the president’s advice. He switched his campaign into the Scottsdale district on Dec. 19. Trump’s endorsement followed about two weeks later.

In an interview Feely said national Republican leaders in D.C., and “grassroots leadership” in the Valley, encouraged him to pivot to the Scottsdale seat. He said he spoke several times with House Speaker Mike Johnson on the matter.

“I wanted to do what was best for the team,” he told The Arizona Republic.

“If they wanted me to run in CD1, and they felt like I was the best candidate, and the one that could hold that seat, then I was willing to do that.”

It’s rare but not unheard of for the president to endorse multiple candidates in a single race.

Last year Trump endorsed two congressional hopefuls in a West Valley-area Republican primary, including the eventual winner, U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh.

And in Missouri’s 2022 U.S. Senate race, Trump left election-watchers scratching their heads when he endorsed “Eric,” a first name shared by the race’s two front-runners. Both campaigns claimed the endorsement as their own.

For years the Scottsdale-area district has been considered one of the most competitive races in the country. Its incumbent, U.S. Rep. David Schweikert, announced last year he would not seek re-election in 2026, winding down his 15-year tenure on Capitol Hill and setting up a bitter contest for the rare open congressional seat.

Across the aisle, about half a dozen high-profile Democrats are fighting for their party’s nomination.

The candidates have already raised millions of dollars between them, with campaign spending only expected to escalate leading up to the Aug. 4, 2026 primaries. The Nov. 3, 2026, general election will bring millions more expensive television advertisements, mailers, and social media ads to the district, much of it financed by national Republican and Democratic groups wrestling for control over the U.S. House.

Feely has raised more than $1 million, about a third of which he has loaned himself, according to a report filed this fall. His personal financial disclosure shows he is worth at least $15 million, giving him a piggy bank that could help finance a campaign.

Swoboda has raised “quite a bit” of money, said campaign consultant Chris Baker, though her fundraising receipts aren’t yet public.

Rivals slam Feely’s out-of-district residence

Feely’s rivals have slammed him for running in a district where he doesn’t live.

“If Jay Feely wants to travel 50 minutes every day to run in Arizona’s 1st Ccongressional District, where he’s never lived, we will pay for his Uber,” Alfredo Rodriguez, a strategist with the Trobough campaign, wrote in a news release. “Tell him to send us the bill.”

“If Gilbert carpetbagger Jay Feely foolishly thinks he can win in AZ01, then more power to him I guess. But the outcome won’t change – Gina Swoboda will win the Republican primary,” Baker wrote in a statement to The Republic.

Feely said in an interview he has connections to the Scottsdale district, even though he doesn’t actually live there. The district is “about economics” and “represents the entrepreneurial spirit,” he said.

“I’ve invested in companies in this district. My friends and family live in this district. And I want to be an asset to all of them,” Feely said.

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Arizona

Arizona is still growing, but new migration data shows the trend may be shifting

Published

14 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Arizona is still growing, but new migration data shows the trend may be shifting

Arizona remains one of the fastest-growing states in the country, but new migration data suggests that growth is starting to level out.

According to the latest numbers from U-Haul, Arizona ranked number seven nationwide for growth in 2025. While that is down one spot from the year before, it marks the sixth consecutive year the state has remained in the top ten.

The rankings are based on more than 2.5 million one-way moving transactions for the Arizona-based company.

What stands out in the data is how close those numbers are.

In 2025, 50.3% of U-Haul’s one-way moves came into Arizona, while 49.7% moved out. In practical terms, that means for nearly every family moving into the state, there is another one packing up and leaving.

That does not mean Arizona is losing population. However, it does suggest the margin of growth is getting thinner than it has been in recent years.

Even with that shift, the greater Phoenix metro area continues to be a major driver of growth. Phoenix ranked fifth nationwide among U.S. metro areas, fueled by job creation and new housing across the Valley.

U-Haul leaders point to continued development tied to major employers, including chip manufacturing and data centers, as well as ongoing residential construction, as reasons Phoenix remains a top destination.

Experts who study migration trends say when in-migration and out-migration numbers get this close, it can be a sign that affordability pressures are starting to play a role, especially when it comes to housing.

The latest data does not point to a mass exodus, but it does show Arizona entering a period of transition, balancing opportunity and growth with affordability concerns.

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Arizona

Barrel Racers Claim Big Wins in First Weekend of Arizona Legacy Races

Published

1 day ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Barrel Racers Claim Big Wins in First Weekend of Arizona Legacy Races

The 2026 Arizona Legacy Races in Buckeye, Ariz., are ringing in a new year for futurity horses December 30 – January 6, at the Buckeye Equestrian & Events Center. Formerly known as the MVP Futurity and Greg Olson Futurity, these two races have been a staple in many professional trainers’ schedules for decades. This year, the two events boast $22,000 in added money.

Futurity

Linzie Lindsey and Fame Dancin Yola claimed the Round 1 win with a 17.577 for $1,959. Barbara Merrill rode TKW Eye Am Tess to the 2D win.

After finishing out of the 1D money in Round 1, Loralee Ward and Dark Honey ran the fastest time of the futurity with a 17.030 to claim the Round 2 win. The duo also earned the Futurity Reserve Championship for $1,652.

Lindsey and Fame Dancin Yola finished second in Round 2 with a 17.164, adding $1,603 to their futurity earnings and claiming the Futurity Championship for another $2,019.

Jenna Duhon and PMC AintSheBeautiful earned the Round 2 2D win. In the 2D Average, it was Estella Martin and Quanahs Kingdom claiming the win.

Derby

Round 1 of a very tough Derby went to Jana Bean and Feature This Goodbye with a 17.268. 2025 futurity standout Blissful Version and Lora Nichols finished second in Round 1 with a 17.282, won Round 2 with a 17.032, and claimed the Average win.

“Buddy” and Nichols were in contention for the highest money-earning futurity horse of the previous season, before the cancellation of the last two major events of the season due to EHV-1. By $7 million sire Winners Version, Buddy banked over $300,000 in his futurity year.

Big Paydays

Megan McLeod-Sprague and Jagger | Fernando Sam-Sin/@fsamsin

Megan McLeod-Sprague and Seis Corona (“Jagger”) were hot off the 2025 National Finals Rodeo. The duo won the Roohide Hot Rod with a 17.004 for $1,368. They also earned the Friday Open 1D win for $1,083.

With the first 16-second run of the weekend, Sherry Cervi and MP Meter My Fame won the Saturday Open 1D with a 16.969.

Rita Cheeney and HP Dash Ta Fairfax ran the only other sub-17-second run of the weekend, with a 16.996 that took the top spot in Sunday’s Open 1D.

Nichols and Buddy doubled down on their derby earnings, placing deep in the Open 1D both days, as well as the Roohide Hot Rod, and Big Time Boss.

Youth competitor Tabitha Dyal also had an outstanding weekend, earning Open 1D money Friday, Saturday, and Sunday aboard Slym Shady. She swept the Youth 1D on Slym Shady and earned Open 1D, Open 2D, and Youth 1D checks on Promise Me Fame Guys and Smooth Operraider. Dyal wrapped up her weekend with several checks in the Big Time Boss.