Oct. 11, 2008

Box Score

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Villanova volleyball team dropped a hard-fought 3-1 (25-20, 14-25, 15-25, 28-30), match to Louisville on Saturday afternoon at Cardinal Arena in Louisville, Ky. Down, 2-1, the Wildcats continued to play hard in the fourth set, but could not force the match into a fifth set.

"I thought that we played two sets really well with a lot of energy and we didn't give up after we fell behind," head coach Josh Steinbach said. "We fought really hard in the fourth set, but Louisville is a talented team and they gave a good effort when they had to. Maggie Mergen played great and was very efficient in attacking. We have another chance tomorrow against Cincinnati and we will take the energy from this game and put it on the court tomorrow."

Villanova (11-8, 2-2) had three players post double figures in kills. Freshman Morgan Petkovich connected on 14, freshman Maggie Mergen notched 13 kills and senior Dana Tartazky tallied 11 kills in the match. Mergen had a .391 attack percentage.

Junior Chelsea Graman gave out 41 assists, while junior Amy Gulyas collected nine digs.

Villanova trailed 10-7 in the first set, but used a 6-3 run to tie the score at 13 apiece, following a service error from the Cardinals. Another error from Louisville tied the score at 16 each, but a kill from freshman Morgan Petkovich and block from senior Whitney Harrington and junior Elysse Studzinski gave the Wildcats an 18-16 lead and forced the Cardinals to call timeout. Louisville used its final timeout as VU took a 22-19 lead after U of L had an attack error. Tartazky connected on a final kill as Villanova took a 25-20 set one victory.

Louisville soared out to a 6-2 lead in the second frame as Villanova used a quick timeout to regroup. The Wildcats' offense could not connect as the Cardinals' lead continued to increase. Villanova used its second timeout trailing 17-9, but could not threaten as the Cardinals took the second set.

A kill from Petkovich tied the third set at 4-4, but a 7-1 run from Louisville took the score to 11-5, and sent Villanova into a timeout. Senior Kaela Frizzell served an ace and an error from the Cardinals followed to put Louisville's lead at 14-9. Villanova threatened and closed the gap at 20-15 following a miscue from Louisville, but the Cardinals scored two quick points after the break and Villanova called timeout. The Wildcats would not score again as the Cardinals took the third victory.

Villanova got on the board first in the fourth stanza and jumped out to a 10-7 lead after a service error by Louisville. A kill from Tartazky kept the Wildcats in front, 12-9, and after a miscue from Louisville the `Cats' lead was 15-11 as the Cardinals called timeout. `Nova used a 5-3 run following the break to stay ahead, 20-14, as U of L called its final timeout. Errors from the Wildcats saw their lead cut to two points, 22-20, as they regrouped in a timeout and called their final timeout after the score was tied at 23. Both teams traded points back-and-forth in a battle to stay ahead by two points and end the set, but after an error from the `Cats the score was tied again at 27. Louisville connected on a kill for a 28-28 tie and then closed out the match with two more points, taking the fourth set, 30-28.

Villanova heads to Cincinnati and will face the Bearcats at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12.