Sept. 10, 2002
Box Score
Villanova, Pa. --- In the home opener for the women's volleyball team on Tuesday, Sept. 10, the Villanova Wildcats (3-5 overall) overcame a 2-0 deficit to outlast the Temple Owls (3-3 overall) in five games. After dropping the first two sets, the 'Cats outplayed the Owls to secure their third victory of the season, 3-2. Scores for the match were 29-31, 26-30, 30-19, 30-26 and 15-13.
After Villanova found themselves down 2-0, the 'Cats came out of the break with rejuvenated energy. Leading 18-16 in the third set, 'Nova broke the game open on a 6-0 run off four Owl attack errors and two kills from senior hitter Erin Birunas (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield). Villanova would then go on to score six points down the stretch to secure the game three victory.
In the fourth set, the 'Cats jumped out of the gates on an 8-2 run and would never trail en route to the 30-26 win. After Temple cut into the 'Cats lead at 25-24, Villanova would score the next four points including two kills from sophomore Kerri Sullivan (Downers Grove, Ill./South) to pull within one point of victory. Temple would rattle off the next two points but another Sullivan blast would send the match into a decisive final set.
Trailing 13-12 in the last game, the Wildcats would benefit from back to back kills from Leah Mathews (Poway, Calif./Our Lady of Lourdes) and Birunas to take a one-point advantage. A Temple attach error would eventually give the 'Cats a thrilling fifth set come from behind victory.
In the win, four Wildcats tallied double-digit numbers in kills as Sullivan led all Wildcat players with 15 in addition to three blocks. Mathews tallied a double-double with 10 kills and 14 digs while sophomore Katie Lanting (Loveland, Colo./Alexander Dawson School) and Birunas added 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Also playing impressively for the 'Cats was rookie hitter Dana Kabashima (Santa Monica, Calif./Santa Monica) who posted nine kills and a team-high 20 digs.
Villanova will return to action this Friday, Sept. 13 when they travel to State College, Pa. to take part in the Penn State Invitational. The 'Cats will open up play against the nationally ranked Nittany Lions at 7:30 p.m.
