Final Stats

University Park, Pa. - The Villanova volleyball team opened their 2015 season with a 25-23, 25-22, 18-25, 25-13 win over Stony Brook Friday evening in the Penn State Classic in University Park, Pa.

The Wildcats (1-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) were led by Allie Loitz (Bonita, Calif./Bonita Vista) who recorded a 17 kill, 12 dig double-double in her Villanova debut.

"Loitz is great. She's just a really good all-around volleyball player," said Villanova head coach Josh Steinbach. "She handles the ball well. She can block. She can do it all."

Lauren Carpenter (Lakewood, Colo./Lakewood) finished the match with 12 kills and Emma Pettit (Ft. Collins, Colo./Fossil Ridge) tallied 47 assists.

Michelle Adams (Sugar Land, Texas/William P. Clements) led the Wildcat defense with 16 digs while Pettit and Allison Fitzgerald (St. Louis, Mo./Visitation Academy) added eight digs each.

"Playing the first match you're trying to figure out what you're good at and what you're not good at," continued Steinbach. "We saw some things that we're good at which is a positive sign."

Stony Brook (0-1) was led by Kathy Fletcher with 14 kills, six digs and a pair of service aces.

Gabby Pethokoukis (Western Springs, Ill./Benet Academy) controlled the first set by recording three kills and a pair of blocks. On the night she had eight kills to go along with a team-high four blocks.

Loitz and Carpenter combined for 11 kills in the second frame (Loitz 6, Carpenter 5) while Pettit handed out 14 assists.

The Wildcats could not close the game in the third set as they fell behind early and could not dig out of the early hole.

Loits finished the match in fine fashion as she tallied five kills and six digs to put away the Seawolves in the fourth set.

The Penn State Classic continues tomorrow as Villanova takes on Buffalo at 10:00am and closes the weekend with No. 1 Penn State at 7:00 pm.

Short Box Score (Match)
2015 Villanova Volleyball
Villanova vs Stony Brook (Aug 28, 2015 at University Park, Pa.)

Villanova def. Stony Brook 25-23,25-22,18-25,25-13

Villanova (1-0) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Loitz, Allie 17-0-3; CARPENTER,
Lauren 12-0-1; Pethokoukis, Gabby 8-0-4; Crutchfield, Claire 8-0-3;
PEDERSEN-HENRY, A. 6-2-4; Berendt, Michaela 2-0-0; Pettit, Emma 2-1-1;
Totals 55-3-9.0. (Assists) - Pettit, Emma 47. (Dig leaders) - ADAMS,
Michelle 16; Loitz, Allie 12; Fitzgerald, Allison 8; Pettit, Emma 8

Stony Brook (0-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - FLETCHER, Kathy 14-2-6;
WILSON, Taylor 8-1-4; AMORY, Melann 7-1-0; BOWMAN, Cydney 5-0-5;
BROOKS, McKyla 5-0-2; KATH, Morgan 1-0-1; NIZICH, Dani 0-1-0; Totals
40-5-9.0. (Assists) - KATH, Morgan 33. (Dig leaders) - VOGEL, Nicole
15; AMORY, Melann 7

Site: University Park, Pa. (Recreation Building)
Date: Aug 28, 2015 Attend: Time: 1:39
Referees: Nathan Mahaven, Mike Paull
Penn State Classic Match 1.