Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. - The Villanova Wildcats (11-6, 2-2 BIG EAST) dropped a 25-19, 25-22, 21-25 25-21 match against the DePaul Blue Demons (8-7, 2-1 BIG EAST) on Friday night.

The Wildcats could not recover from a two-set deficit, despite winning the third set. Villanova had a lead late in the fourth set, but could not extend the match to a fifth set.

Allie Loitz (Bonita, Calif./Bonita Vista) hit .387 and connected on a team-high 15 kills in the match. Amanda Pedersen-Henry (Murrieta Calif./Vista Murrieta) added 13 kills for the Wildcat

On defense, Regan Lough (Riverside, Calif./Martin Luther King) dug 15 attacks in the match to lead the Wildcats.

DePaul's Brittany Maxwell, Jasmine King, and Caitlyn Coffey each had at least 10 kills against Villanova, as the Blue Demons outhit the Wildcats .318 to .230 in the four sets.

DePaul started the match with the momentum, taking an early 9-3 lead on the opening frame. DePaul would extend its lead to 15-7 to force Villanova's final timeout of the set. The Wildcats would slowly climb back in the game, going on a 10-5 run to cut the DePaul advantage to just three at 20-17. DePaul would take over the set with a 5-2 run to take the first set 25-19.

The Blue Demons kept a slight advantage early on in the second stanza, as DePaul took a slight 9-5 lead. The Wildcats responded after a timeout to cut the lead to just one at 11-10. Both teams would trade points for the remainder of the set, but with the score a one point advantage for DePaul at 21-20, the Blue Demons would a take a 2-0 lead in the match with a 4-2 run to take the second frame 25-22

Villanova started the set on a 5-1 to force an early timeout in the first game. The Wildcats held a slim advantage for the majority of the set, but DePaul took a late lead at 20-19. The Cats would prevent a sweep with a late 6-1 run to win the set 25-21. Loitz led the way with four kills on six attempts in the third set.

The Wildcats and Blue Demons battled in the fourth set, as there were seven ties in the game. DePaul took the lead at 1-0 and did not let Villanova take the set. DePaul called a late timeout with the score tied at 19-19, as the Blue Demons capped the match on a 5-2 run to win the set 25-21 and the match 3-1.

Villanova looks to avenge the loss tomorrow night in Milwaukee when they face the Marquette Golden Eagles at 7:00 p.m.