Oct. 8, 2000

Box Score

Villanova, Pa. - On October 8, the Villanova Wildcat volleyball team hosted the Seton Hall University Pirates in a big east conference match. Down 7-2, in game three Villanova fought back to claim the game and match. The conference victory was the Wildcats first since beating the Pirates in the last match of 1998. The 15-13, 10-15, 15-9, 16-14 victory improved Villanova's record to 7-12 on the year and 1-3 in the Big East.

Statistically for Villanova, senior Tina Zitterich (Ames, Iowa/Gilbert) crushed 23 kills. Breen Eddinger (Tacoma, Wash./Bellarmine Prep) added 13 in the effort. Assisting Zitterich and Eddinger was freshman sensation Jennifer Edwards (Valencia, Calif./Valencia). Edwards handed out 50 helpers on the afternoon.

Defensively for Villanova, things finally came to life. Five Wildcats recorded at least nine digs in the match. Leading the way was senior Ruth Ann Blankenheim (Lighthouse Point, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons) who tallied 17 digs. Blankenheim also added nine kills. Joining her in the defensive efforts was Edwards and freshman Amanda Guralski (Wauwatosa, Wisc./Wauwatosa). The tandem recorded 11 and 10 kills respectively. Eddinger and sophomore standout Leah Mathews (Poway, Calif./Our Lady of Peace) each added nine digs.

Villanova hit .257 in the match, while Seton Hall could only muster .207. Both teams tallied 65 kills, but Seton Hall recorded 28 errors to Villanova's 21.

Leading the way for the Pirates was sophomore Kari Belin. She hammered home 25 kills. Freshman Paige Ellertson and Jackie Neely aided Belin. Neely recorded 15 kills, while Ellertson added 12.

Seton Hall falls to 6-13 overall and 0-4 in the conference.

Villanova will be in action next when they travel to the University of Pennsylvania on October 10 at 7:00 PM.