Box Score

WASHINGTON -- Villanova Volleyball capped an overall successful day for Villanova Athletics, as the Wildcats (15-8, 6-4 BIG EAST) downed the Georgetown Hoyas (6-17, 2-8 BIG EAST) 25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-16 on Saturday night at McDonough Arena.

Senior outside hitter Claire Crutchfield (Falls Church, Va./Bishop O'Connell) led all student-athletes with 18 kills, half of them coming in the third set. Amanda Pedersen-Henry (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta) added 11 kills, as the middle blocker recorded at least 10 kills her last three matches.

Freshman setter Emma Decker (LaGrange, Ill./Nazareth Academy) provided contributions in a variety of ways for the Wildcats, distributing 40 assists, connecting on eight kills, while adding seven digs on defense and led the team with five blocks.

Coach Josh Steinbach thought Decker and the team in general performed well against the Hoyas.

"I thought the team played well as a whole," noted Steinbach. "Emma had a good night offensively, and we needed her to do an array of things tonight."

Freshman libero Regan Lough (Riverside, Calif./Martin Luther King) dug out 18 Hoya attacks on the night, while Allison Fitzgerald had 13 on the night against the BIG EAST rival. The duo helped the Wildcats outhit the Hoyas .310 to .209. Steinbach was also pleased with the Wildcats defensive performance, and how the offense was able to capitalize on opportunities

"We defended well and found ways to score in transition so that was key."

With the opening frame tied at 8-8, Villanova jumped to a five point advantage after a 9-3 run. With the score at 17-11 in favor of the Wildcats, Villanova expanded its lead to 20-14 to force a Georgetown timeout. The lead would prove too much for the Hoyas, as kills by Michaela Berendt (Olympia, Wash./Olympia) Lough, Crutchfield and Decker gave Villanova a 1-0 lead, taking the first set 25-18.

Set two featured 13 ties and seven lead changes, as the Wildcats and Hoyas battled from start to finish. Near the end of the set, Villanova was able to take a 23-22 lead after one of Darcy Wolf's (Allentown, Pa./Central Catholic) seven kills. The Hoyas regrouped after a timeout, earning the last two points to take the stanza 25-23.

The third frame was another close one. The `Cats rallied for four straight points after a 13-13 tie to take a 17-13 advantage. The Hoyas cut the lead to just two at 19-17, 20-18, 22-20 and 24-22, but a Crutchfield kill from Decker gave Villanova the third set 25-22 to take a 2-1 lead.

The Wildcats started on fire in the fourth set, starting the frame on an 8-2 run. Villanova expanded the lead to 17-8 after kills from Crutchfield, Wolf, Decker, along with several Georgetown errors. The Hoyas would cut the lead to seven at 22-15, but the Cats finished the match on a 3-1 run as Allie Olsonoski (New Orleans, La./Ben Franklin) capped the victory with a kill as Villanova earned its sixth BIG EAST win.

Villanova returns home on Friday Oct. 28 when the Wildcats face Marquette at 7 p.m. Villanova took the first meeting of the season against the Golden Eagles, 3-1.