Oct. 23, 2011
Box Score
VILLANOVA, Pa. - Senior Maggie Mergen connected on 18 kills and hit .351, but the Villanova volleyball team (14-9, 6-3 BIG EAST) fell 3-0 (23-25, 13-25, 23-25) to St. John's on Sunday afternoon in Jake Nevin Fieldhouse.
Junior Morgan Petkovich recorded seven kills, eight digs and five blocks in the match.
Freshman Allie DiBernardo dished out 17 assists, while senior Courtney Oertli gave out 10.
Senior Kim Maroon collected 15 digs.
DiBernardo served an ace to tie the score at 6-6 in the first set and Maroon launched an ace as Villanova jumped ahead, 11-8. St. John's called timeout trailing 12-9, but went on a 6-1 run after the break to lead 15-13. The Wildcats called timeout after two unanswered points from the Red Storm. Villanova used its final timeout trailing 20-17 and pulled to within one point, 22-21 after two errors from St. John's, but the Red Storm won the set, 25-23.
Trailing the second frame 16-11, Villanova called a timeout. The Red Storm scored two quick points following the break and led 18-11 as the Wildcats used their final timeout. Williams found the floor for a kill, but St. John's used a 7-2 run to close the set with a 25-13 victory.
Sophomore Mariah Henley served an ace to open the third frame and Villanova led 4-1 as St. John's called a quick timeout. Mergen connected for two kills as the Wildcats led 12-7, but the Red Storm came creep back and trailed just two points, 16-14 after three consecutive errors from `Nova. A 3-0 run from St. John's tied the set at 17 apiece, but Villanova scored three unanswered on kills from sophomore Carly Edwards, Petkovich and Mergen. The Red Storm came right back with a 4-0 run and took a 21-20 lead as Villanova called timeout. Mergen slammed back-to-back kills after the break and the Wildcats regained a 22-21 lead, but St. John's tied the score at 23 apiece. The Red Storm connected on two final kills to win the set 25-23 and sweep the match.
Villanova combined for seven total blocks in the match.
The Wildcats will begin two weekends on the road. Next week Villanova will travel to Rutgers on Friday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m. before facing Seton Hall on Sunday, October 30 at 2:00 p.m.
