Oct. 25, 2003

VILLANOVA, PA. - Katie Lanting and Kerri Sullivan each smacked 12 kills to lead Villanova past Georgetown, 3-0, in BIG EAST action on Saturday at Jake Nevin Field House. The Wildcats posted scores of 30-26, 30-24 and 30-26.

Three kills by Lanting and two points by Sullivan helped the Wildcats to an early 3-5 lead in game one. Georgetown would close the gap to 16-12 on a Jennifer Fountain ace. Celine Nguyen and Erin Birunas helped Villanova build a larger cushion, 24-16. Then for the Hoyas, Sara Albert registered three kills and a solo block to make the score 28-25. An ace by Dana Kabashima and a kill by Nguyen closed out the game for the 'Cats.

In game two, Lanting again shined early, with five kills and two block assists as Villanova went ahead 10-8. With the score tied at 14-14, Kabashima got hot and managed three kills to put Villanova back in front, 20-16. Sullivan later added two kills of her own to extend the lead to 24-18 as Villanova went on for the win. Rachel Nelson led the Hoyas with three kills in game two.

Game three featured the most excitement of the match, with a nip-and-tuck battle all the way down to the end. Georgetown led 26-25, but Lanting scored after a long rally to tie the game and give Villanova the momentum. On the next play, Jennifer Badran-Grycan jumped to the net and tipped the ball over the net to put the 'Cats ahead 27-26. An attack error made it a two-point game and then Jennifer Edwards registered an ace and Lanting earned the last call to seal the match for Villanova.

Birunas tallied eight kills, while Nguyen added seven kills and eight digs for the Wildcats. Edwards led the squad with 18 assists and Badran-Grycan managed 17 helpers.

Nelson finished with 11 kills to lead Georgetown (6-16, 1-6) offensively, while Albert managed eight kills, three solo blocks and a block assist.

Villanova (8-13, 3-4) returns to action on Tuesday at 7 p.m. when Delaware visits Jake Nevin Field House for a non-conference match.