Nov. 23, 2001

Box Score

TUCSON, Ariz. - Lisa Rutledge had 12 kills and the University of Arizona hit .537 as a team as the fourth-ranked Wildcats cruised to a 3-0 (30-11, 30-20, 30-12) win over the University of Denver in the first round of the Five Points University Plaza Thanksgiving Tournament at the McKale Center on Friday night.

Arizona (20-4) limited the Pioneers to just 19 kills and a -.012 hitting percentage for the match. Sophomore Olympia Hughes (Casper, Wyo. / Natrona County HS) had five kills to lead Denver (13-17).

"We were not able to terminate the ball at all tonight," said head coach Beth Kuwata. "Arizona showed why they were the fourth-ranked team in the country. They had two players who served the ball extremely well, and we didn't do a good job of keeping the ball in play."

Arizona had just eight hitting errors on the night, and just three caused by unforced errors. Denver did block five Wildcat attempts, yet the Pioneers' attack could muster just a .154 hitting percentage in its best game.

The Pioneers will close their season on Saturday at 10 a.m. MST against San Diego State, which lost to UC-Santa Barbara in Friday's opening match.