Final Stats

DENVER, Colo. - The Villanova volleyball team lost the first set before winning the next three sets and defeating Air Force 22-25, 25-12, 25-16, 25-18 Friday evening in the Pioneer Classic in Denver, Colo.

Allie Loitz (Bonita, Calif./Bonita Vista) and Gabby Pethokoukis (Western Springs, Ill./Benet Academy) led the Wildcats offensive attack with 11 kills and 10 kills, respectively.

Loitz added eight digs defensively while Pethokoukis added seven blocks.

Amanda Pedersen-Henry (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta High) filled the stat sheet with eight kills, six blocks and five digs.

Michelle Adams (Sugar Land, Texas/William P. Clements) led the team with 15 digs and Emma Pettit (Ft. Collins, Colo./Fossil Ridge) handed out 38 assists.

The Wildcats (3-1, 0-0 BIG EAST) led 10-7 in the first set but Air Force battled back to tie the set at 12-12. The set was again tied at 19-19 before Air Force scored three straight points to take a late lead.

The second set was a set of runs for the Wildcats as they put together separate runs of 4-0, 4-0 and 5-0 in a runaway 25-12 set win.

In the third set the Wildcats were leading 5-3 before blowing open the set with seven straight points. Another 6-0 run opened the lead to a dozen and secured the third set for Villanova.

Air Force trailed by a point in the fourth set but Villanova scored six straight to give them an 18-11 lead. Villanova scored the last two points of the match to close out the Falcons, 25-18.

The Villanova volleyball team will play a day-night double header tomorrow in the Pioneer Classic. Their first game will be against UT Arlington at 12:30pm and the Wildcats will finish the weekend with Denver at 9:30pm.