Oct. 30, 2009
Box Score
VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Villanova volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (22-25, 17-25, 21-25) contest to USF Friday evening at Jake Nevin Fieldhouse.
Sophomore Maggie Mergen led the Wildcats (16-8, 5-4 BIG EAST) with 13 kills and just one error to hit .480. Freshman Krista Andersen had eight kills.
Sophomore Kim Maroon collected 16 digs and now needs just four more digs to break Villanova's single season digs record.
Andersen and senior Amy Gulyas also posted double figure digs with 12 and 13, respectively, while sophomore Courtney Oertli gave out a match-high 26 assists.
Villanova trailed 5-1 early in the first set, but used a 6-2 run to tie the score at seven each. The Wildcats called their first timeout trailing 16-11, but scored three unanswered points, including kills from senior Elysse Studzinski and Mergen to pull within two points, 16-14. After USF used a timeout, Villanova notched just one point on a kill from Mergen and still trailed 19-16. Andersen connected for a kill and served an ace as the `Cats trailed just one point, 23-22, but the Bulls were able to close the set for the 25-22 victory.
USF was on the board first in the second frame as Villanova used an early timeout after four consecutive kills from the Bulls, but were unable to find the floor as USF remained ahead, 17-10. As the Bulls led 23-14, VU capitalized on errors to score three unanswered points, but USF would take the second set, 25-17.
After a 4-4 tie in the third set, USF notched three consecutive points to go ahead, 7-4 and was able to extend its lead to 13-8 following consecutive kills. Andersen found the floor for a kill following a Wildcat timeout and served for three points, including a kill from Gulyas, to pull within one point, 15-14 as the Bulls regrouped in a timeout. A kill from Mergen had Villanova still down just one point, 18-17, as the Wildcats called their final timeout as USF held a 22-19 advantage. Andersen connected for two kills, but `Nova was unable to extend the match and fell 25-21.
Villanova will host its final home match of the season on Sunday, Nov. 1 when Georgetown visits Jake Nevin Fieldhouse. Gulyas, Studzinski and fellow senior Chelsea Graman will be honored before the match that begins at 2:00 p.m.
