VILLANOVA, Pa. – The women's volleyball team defeated the Providence Friars 3-1 on Friday night at Jake Nevin Field House. With the win the Wildcats improve to 11-9 and 4-4 in the BIG EAST. The Friars fall to 7-11 and 1-6.
Head coach Josh Steinbach on the victory, "Good to get back on the winning track. I thought we did some nice things tonight, but we are going to have to get better especially with Creighton coming in tomorrow."
Freshman outside hitter Clare Delaplane had her fifth double-double of the season with a team leading 20 kills and 11 digs.
Junior setter Emma Decker dished out 46 assists. It was her eleventh game with 40 or more assists. Decker also had a season high four blocks against the Friars.
Junior libero Regan Lough had 20 digs for her eleventh game with 20 or more digs.
Junior middle blocker Allie Olsonoski was the other Wildcat with double digit kills with 11 hitting .357. Olsonoski also had four blocks and two service aces.
The Wildcats led 7-3 after back to back service aces by Olsonoski. Villanova continued to lead but the Friars would tie it up at 18. The Wildcats used a 4-0 run to retake the lead 22-18. Providence cut it to 23-22 Villanova but it would not be enough as the Wildcats took the opening set 25-22. Delaplane led the Wildcats with six kills. There were only three tie scores and zero lead changes during the opening set.
The start of the second set was all Villanova. The Wildcats jumped out to a 10-4 lead and then later went on a 7-0 run to lead 17-6. Villanova then used a 3-0 run and a 2-1 run to extend their lead to 23-9. Providence would cut into Villanova's lead but it was not enough as the Wildcats took the second set 25-18. As a team, Villanova hit .371 with 14 kills and only one error during this set.
Providence got the early lead to begin the third set. The Wildcats trailed 7-10 and were never able catch up to the Friars throughout the set. The two teams would continue to trade points and the Wildcats cut it to 17-18 but could not overtake the Friars. Providence won the third set 25-22.
The beginning of the fourth set was much like the start of the second set. Villanova shot out to 12-3 lead thanks to a 5-0 and 4-0 run. The Wildcats would keep their lead and won the set 25-16 and the match 3-1. Olsonoski had five kills and Decker had 11 assists during the fourth set.
The Wildcats return to action tomorrow night against No. 10 Creighton at 7:00 p.m. in Jake Nevin Field House. Live streaming and stats will be available for the match.
