Aug 26, 2013
VILLANOVA, Pa. - Villanova has been predicted to finish seventh in the BIG EAST in 2013 in the preseason poll voted annually by league head coaches. The Wildcats will open their season in Rochester, Mich. later this week during the Golden Grizzlies Invitational.
With the shift in conference realignment, the BIG EAST will look completely altered with eight schools (Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pittsburg, Rutgers, Syracuse and USF) departing and three schools (Creighton, Xavier and Butler) joining.
In all nine schools will vie for four spots at a shot for a trip to the BIG EAST Championship Nov. 29-30 hosted by Creighton in Omaha, Neb.
Last season Villanova finished with an 11-19 record and tied for 10th in the conference. However, the Wildcats were shaken with several key injuries down the stretch and finished just one match short of the BIG EAST Championships. With 13 players returning from a year ago, Villanova hopes that last years' experience will give them a chance to finish in the top four and make a second trip to Omaha.
The Wildcats return a plethora of starters from a year ago, including the team's leading attacker, blocker, setter and defensive specialist. Top attacker, Lauren Carpenter, returns for her sophomore season after a dominant preseason camp. The Colorado native led the team with 346.5 points, 308 kills and 2.77 k/s. Despite missing the final nine matches to illness, Gabby Pethokoukis led the team with 82 blocks and had emerged as one of the BIG EAST leaders in total blocks for the matches she appeared in with 1.11 blocks/set.
Emma Pettit and Allie DiBernardo were the top setters from last season's team and both return with another year under their belt. Senior Captain Mariah Henley will once again lead the squad serving as the libero. She played in all 111 sets a year ago and tallied 632 digs, an average of 5.69 per set.
Nationally ranked Creighton received seven out of a possible nine first-place votes and was tabbed as the winner of the new look BIG EAST with a total of 63 points. Marquette followed with 57 points and received the other two first place votes. Xavier, Seton Hall, St. John's and Butler rounded out the top-six before Villanova was slotted at the seventh spot. DePaul was predicted eighth, while Georgetown was projected to finish last.
Villanova opens the season versus Oregon State Aug. 30 at 4:30 p.m. ET.
2013 BIG EAST Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Creighton (7) 63 2. Marquette (2) 57 3. Xavier 50 4. Seton Hall 38 5. St. John's 36 6. Butler 26 7. Villanova 25 8. DePaul 16 9. Georgetown 13
