Box Score Nov. 15, 2014 Box Score
Photo Gallery Villanova, Pa. -
The Villanova volleyball team improved to 13-17, 6-9 in the BIG EAST after a five-set thriller against DePaul (3-25, 1-15 BIG EAST) with scores of 22-25, 25-18, 25-17, 18-25 and 16-14. The Wildcats plan to use the momentum of their victory to prepare to take on BIG EAST force Marquette () tomorrow night in the Jake Nevin field house at 7 p.m.
Lauren Carpenter started the match off in style logging the first Wildcat point of the night as her 1000th career kill. The junior posted 18 kills on 47 attempts with eight errors for an attack percentage of .213. This evening's match marks the third time the outside hitter has put 18 points on the scoreboard, her third highest points tally for a single match of the season.
Carpenter also logged one service ace and six digs against the Blue Demons.
Sophomore Michaela Berendt also had a standout night against the Blue Demons as the middle blocker posted 14 kills on 30 attempts with only two errors for an attack percentage of .400, the highest for Villanova and the third highest in the match.
Berendt also posted one assist, three service aces, two digs and two block assists.
Starting junior libero Michelle Adams dug deep for the `Cats 26 times, while freshman Allison Fitzgerald posted 18 digs as she continues to transition back on to the team after a nine game hiatus due to injury.
Junior Emma Pettit and senior Allie DiBernardo split the assist duties in the match with each putting up 25 and 22 assists, respectively.
After dropping the first set with a score of 25-22, the Wildcats looked to quickly rebound but were unable to pull away from the Blue Demons until back-to-back kills from junior Brittany Rembert and senior Molly O'Neil gave the Wildcats the momentum to pull away. During the second set, Villanova posted a game high .351 attack percentage.
The second set saw eight tied scores and four lead changes, the most of any set in the match.
Spurred by an early DePaul service error, the Wildcats went on a strong 10-5 run to start off the third set. The third set was dominated by Berendt, who posted five kills, three service aces and no errors for a stellar third set and an impressive .625 attack percentage.
Inaccurate hitting and errors plagued the Wildcats in the third set, who posted a match low .050 against a DePaul offense who was not ready to quit.
Forced into five sets, the Jake Nevin was buzzing with a full crowd of student and family members as the game turned into a battle of will.
With eight tied scores and three lead changes, both teams battled it out; remaining within at least two point of one another until in the most fitting way, the Wildcats took the game with a kill from senior Molly O'Neil from a DiBernardo assist. The fairytale ending to anyone's senior night.
