Sept. 17, 2010
Box Score
VILLANOVA, Pa. - In a thrilling five-set match at Jake Nevin Fieldhouse, the Villanova volleyball team (9-3) opened the Villanova Classic with a 3-2 (25-18, 22-25, 25-20, 23-25, 15-12) victory over Maryland on Friday evening.
Junior Maggie Mergen led the way for the `Cats with a match-high 19 kills and a .375 hitting percentage. Redshirt sophomore Morgan Petkovich and freshman Allison Williams also posted double figure kills with 14 and 10, respectively. Sophomore CeCe Twitty had a strong performance with eight kills and just one error to hit .412. She also tallied four service aces.
Freshman Alyssa Anderson gave out a career-high tying 55 assists.
Junior Kim Maroon and freshman Mariah Henley both recorded double figure digs with 22 and 13, respectively.
"We had contribution from everyone tonight and it is always good to get a win when everyone is involved," head coach Josh Steinbach said. "Alyssa (Anderson) distributed the ball well tonight and it was good to have a strong offensive performance from CeCe (Twitty). It shows great heart to win in five sets and we're 2-0 this season when playing five, so I think that shows a lot about the will of our team."
Mergen and Petkovich helped open the first set with a 25-18 win as each connected for three kills. Both teams were fairly evenly matched as the Wildcats combined to hit .171 and Maryland posted a combined .161 hitting percentage.
The Terps took set two, 25-22, but Villanova rebounded with strong play in set three. The `Cats opened with a 6-3 lead, but Maryland was able to come back to tie the score at nine apiece and then take a 10-9 lead after a miscue from Villanova. After trailing 13-10, the Wildcats got help with kills from sophomore Krista Andersen and A. Anderson to tie the score at 14-14. Williams found the floor for a kill to give `Nova an 18-16 lead and force Maryland into a timeout before two quick points after the break sent the Terps back to their bench for their final timeout. Mergen found the floor for a kill to give Villanova set point at 24-20 and an error from Maryland sealed the victory, 25-20. Villanova combined to hit .323 in the set, while holding the Terps to just .057.
Maryland launched a comeback and won the fourth frame 25-23 to force a fifth and deciding set. Two ties opened the final set before the Wildcats were able to take a 6-3 lead after Mergen and Williams connected on kills. The Terps used strong hitting to comeback and tie the frame at seven apiece and jumped in front, 10-8 after miscues from `Nova. After a timeout by the Wildcats Mergen connected on a kill and Maryland recorded two errors as VU regained an 11-10 lead, which extended to 13-11 after an error from the Terps and an ace from Twitty. Maryland called a timeout and connected on a kill to close within one point, 13-12, but a kill from Mergen and an attack error by Maryland gave Villanova the set and match victory.
With the win, the Wildcats extended their win-streak to eight matches and snapped an eight match streak of the Terps.
The Wildcats will continue play in the Villanova Classic on Saturday where they will face Long Island at 1:00 p.m.
