Philadelphia, Pa. – The Villanova Wildcats dropped a 5-set heartbreaker to La Salle Saturday for their second consecutive loss. Villanova led two sets to none before losing the momentum and allowing La Salle to storm back and take the match.
 
Villanova has now lost consecutive matches for the first time this season, and drops to just 2-5 in true road games.
 
The match featured head coach Josh Steinbach facing off against one of his former assistants for the first time in his 13-year career. La Salle is coached by former Nova assistant Andrew Kroger. Current Villanova assistant Jackie Scott was facing her twin sister and current La Salle assistant Maggie Scott for their first ever head-to-head matchup. With those factors coupled with it being two schools just 12 miles apart, there was a lot to suggest this one would go down to the wire.
 
The match was close from the get-go, with Villanova taking the first set 25-22. La Salle hung around, but never led in the set. The Wildcats jumped out to a 10-5 lead. From there, La Salle would never get closer than three again. Mallory Potts got off to a hot start to pace the 'Cats through the first set with five kills.
 
The second set was the only time it felt like Villanova was in control. Already with a lead, Villanova put together a 5-2 run to push the score to 19-12 and essentially put away the set and go on to win it 25-18. It was Clare Delaplane leading the charge for the offense in the second set with five kills of her own.
 
The tide turned in the third set, when La Salle used a late run to take the set and give the Explorers some life. Villanova led 18-17 in the set, but a 3-0 run out of a La Salle time out put them on top for good and eventually led to the set ending 25-21 in favor of the Explorers.
 
Villanova had more chances to close it out in the fourth set, but once again was unable to do so. This match was neck-and-neck the whole way, with neither team leading by more than three. Villanova had a chance at 23-23, but La Salle got each of the next two points to take the set 25-23 and force a deciding fifth set.
 
It was a repeat of the fourth for the Wildcats in the fifth, with yet another missed opportunity to escape with a win. It was close the whole way, but Villanova pushed it to match point at 14-13. La Salle held off elimination one more time and gained all the momentum. Even after Villanova held off a pair of match points, La Salle eventually pulled off the comeback and won it 18-16.
 
Emma Decker finished with 46 assists, her second most in a match this season. Four Wildcats finished with double-figure kills, led by Clare Delaplane with 17. Potts, Olsonoski and Howling all reached double figures as well. Two Wildcats finished with 20+ digs for the second time this season, as Regan Lough and Anna Morse each finished with 23. Morse's 23 digs are a career high, topping her previous best of 17 she set last season against Morgan State.
 
The Wildcats return to action next Wednesday at home against Seton Hall at 7 p.m. That will be the first of three-straight home matches, with two more coming up on Friday and Saturday.