NEW YORK – After the second weekend of the 2020 season, Villanova's Paige Rauch and Angela Giampolo have been honored as the BIG EAST Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively. The junior tandem led the Wildcats to a three-win weekend at the UCF Knights Classic. Rauch posted a 2-0 weekend in the circle including her first career no-hitter while Giampolo turned in an all-around performance leading the BIG EAST with eight hits on the weekend and boasting a .579 on base percentage.

Pitcher of the Week
Paige Rauch, Villanova, Jr., P (Windsor, N.Y.)
Rauch improved her season record to 5-0 in the circle after a 2-0 performance at the UCF Knights Classic. The junior threw 15.0 innings of work in three appearances for the Wildcats, including two complete games. Rauch's no hitter came in a 5-0 win over FAU that saw the Windsor, N.Y., native deal 13 strikeouts and walk just one batter. The no hitter marks the first for the Wildcats since 2016 as Rauch becomes just the 10th player in VU history to achieve this mark. For the weekend, Rauch tallied a total of 25 strikeouts and a 1.80 ERA with just seven walks and six hits surrendered.
 
Player of the Week
Angela Giampolo, Villanova, Jr., INF (East Windsor, N.J.)
Giampolo turned in a complete performance at the plate and in the field as the junior lifted the Wildcats to a three-win weekend. Giampolo turned in a .500 batting average on the weekend including a three-for-four outing in the weekend opener against Penn State and a perfect three-for-three mark against Iowa State. On the weekend, the junior matched a team-high and BIG EAST lead eight hits, while reaching base at a .579 clip. Giampolo claimed her first home run of the season with a one-RBI homer against Iowa State. In the field, Giampolo started all five games at second base and notched eight putouts and seven assists.