Sept. 30, 2001

Box Score

Providence, R.I. - On Sunday, Sept. 30, the Villanova Wildcats traveled to Providence, R.I. where they defeated the Providence Friars in four games in a match played at the Peterson Recreation Hall. After dropping the first set 30-28, the Wildcats came back strong to take the next three games by the scores of 30-26, 30-25 and 30-28.

Trailing 25-26 in the second set, Villanova scored five consecutive points off kills by five different Wildcat players to close out the second game and even the match, 1-1.

Game three saw both teams go back and forth until a 5-0 Wildcat rally broke open the set. In that run, junior Leah Mathews (Poway, Calif./Our Lady of Peace) served up two Villanova aces and senior hitter Dana Jones (Mt. Kisco, N.Y./Fox Lane) added a kill and an assisted block. The 'Cats would go on to close out the third set off a Libby Sybilrud (Atlanta, Ga./Marist School) kill to give Villanova the 2-1 advantage.

With the Wildcats leading 18-17 in the fourth and final set, freshman Katie Lanting (Loveland, Colo./Alexander Dawson School) entered the game to register a key block and kill to give Villanova a 20-17 lead en route to the game four win and 3-1 victory.

The Villanova victory saw three Wildcat players register double-double figures on the afternoon. Senior blocker Jacqueline Fugiel (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) had a career day for the 'Cats recording a career-high 16 of 29 kills for a .414 hitting percentage, 16 digs, six assisted blocks and three service aces. Mathews tallied 14 kills, 14 digs and six service aces and Sybilrud added 12 kills and 12 digs. Freshman Kerri Sullivan (Downers Grove, Ill./South) and Jones added to the Wildcat offensive production chipping in with 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Sophomore setter Jennifer Edwards (Valencia, Calif./Valencia) led the Villanova offense with 54 assists.

With the victory, the Wildcats improve their overall season record to 5-7 and 1-2 in Big East action. Providence drops to 2-11 on the year and 0-4 in conference play with the loss.

Villanova will return to action next Friday night, Oct. 5 when they travel to Loudonville, N.Y. to square off against the Siena College Saints in a 7:00 P.M. non-league match.