Final Stats

CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Villanova volleyball team dropped its last regular season road match of the season 23-25, 25-20, 25-20, 23-25, 15-10 to Xavier Saturday night in Cincinnati, Ohio

The Wildcats (21-7, 11-4 BIG EAST) were led by a 15 kill, 18 dig double-double from sophomore Allie Loitz (Bonita, Calif./Bonita Vista). Gabby Pethokoukis (Western Springs, Ill./Benet Academy) pitched in 14 kills for the Wildcat offense.

Allison Fitzgerald (St. Louis, Mo./Visitation Academy) chipped in 15 digs while Emma Pettit (Ft. Collins, Colo./Fossil Ridge) had 46 assists for Villanova.

Butler (15-10, 11-3 BIG EAST) was led by Sofia Peterson with 16 kills and Abbey Bessler with 10 kills and 23 digs.

Butler jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in the first set but Villanova responded by tying the set at 4-4. The Wildcats had the lead at 11-8 only to have the Musketeers tie the set again at 14-14. The set was still tied at 20-20 before a pair of Wildcat points gave Villanova a late advantage. A kill from Claire Crutchfield (Falls Church, Va./Bishop O'Connell) claimed the set for the Wildcats.

Villanova got the early start in the second set 5-1 but Xavier closed the gap quickly at 6-5. The score was tied late 19-19 but a 5-0 run opened the set for Xavier and the Musketeers took the set 25-20.

The third set was back and fourth and was tied late 17-17. Another run by Xavier gave the Musketeers a four point lead at 21-17. Xavier went on to win the set by the same score, 25-20.

Villanova tied the match at 2-2 with a win in the fourth set. It didn't come easy as the Wildcats eraser a 10-4 deficit to tie the score at 21-21. Xavier trialed by a point, 24-23, when an Amanda Pedersen-Henry (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta High) kill ended the set.

The fifth and final set opened with a 3-1 start for Xavier. The two point advantage was held late in the set at 10-8. Xavier extended the lead late, from 13-10 to 15-10, with a pair of points to win the match.

The Villanova volleyball team returns home, where they have not been beaten, to play the final three matches of the regular season. The Wildcats take on Seton Hall, Providence and St. John's to close the season.

Short Box Score (Match) 2015 Villanova Volleyball Villanova vs Xavier (Nov 07, 2015 at Cincinnati, Ohio)

Xavier def. Villanova 23-25,25-20,25-20,23-25,15-10

Villanova (21-7, 11-4 BIG EAST) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Loitz, Allie 15-0-2; Pethokoukis, Gabby 14-0-6; Crutchfield, Claire 8-0-1; Carpenter, Lauren 8-0-3; PEDERSEN-HENRY, A. 6-0-4; Hickey, Colleen 2-0-0; Pettit, Emma 2-1-4; Knight, Ashley 0-2-0; Totals 55-3-10.0. (Assists) - Pettit, Emma 46. (Dig leaders) - Loitz, Allie 18; Fitzgerald, Allison 15; Pettit, Emma 12; Carpenter, Lauren 10

Xavier (15-10, 11-3 BIG EAST) (Kills-aces-blocks) - PETERSON, Sofia 16-0-3; MASSA, Kristen 12-0-4; FRILLING, Lauren 11-0-6; AGIN, Makayla 11-0-1; BESSLER, Abbey 10-0-0; BETTS, Brooke 9-0-0; HUMM, Mackenzi 2-1-0; GROSSMAN, Laura 1-0-0; Totals 72-1-9.0. (Assists) - HUMM, Mackenzi 29; ESTES, McKena 28. (Dig leaders) - BESSLER, Abbey 23; KLARE, Meredith 15; HUMM, Mackenzi 13; ESTES, McKena 8

Site: Cincinnati, Ohio (Cintas Center) Date: Nov 07, 2015 Attend: 549 Time: 2:29 Referees: Dan Houser, Isaac Wong