PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Villanova Wildcats traveled to Providence, R.I., on Saturday night where they lost a hard fought 3-2 match (23-25, 25-20, 25-27, 25-20, 8-15) to the Providence College Friars. This marks the second straight night that Providence earned a five set win over the Wildcats. With the loss, the Wildcats finish the season at 4-6 overall and 3-6 in BIG EAST play, while the Friars improve to 7-4 overall and 5-4 in league action.
 
Villanova was led by junior Clare Delaplane (Downers Grove, Ill.) who had a match-high 17 kills and just two errors for a .366 hitting percentage. Freshman Riley Homer (Grand Rapids, Mich.) reached double figures in kills with 11, while freshman Kiera Booth (Berlin, Pa.) added nine kills and a .438 hitting percentage.  
 
Grad student Averi Salvador (Aiea, Hawaii) tallied a match-high 21 digs, Delaplane finished with 14 digs and senior Sarah Allman (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) chipped in with 13 digs. Salvador also led the way in the serving department with four aces.
 
Providence was paced by Jennifer Leitman with 16 kills and Emma Nelson who added 14 kills. The Friars had five players record double figures in digs led by Allison Barber with 14. Maryanne Boyle had five block assists and one block solo.
 
The Wildcats hit .220 for the match with 58 kills and 22 errors in 164 attempts. Villanova was also credited with eight service aces and 13 service errors. Providence tallied a .220 hitting percentage with 62 kills and 25 errors in 168 attempts. The Friars also posted eight aces and 13 service errors.
 
SET #1
** With the game tied at 22-22, the Friars tallied three of the last four points, including three kills to earn the set.
** Riley Homer led the Wildcats with three kills.
** Clare Delaplane had five first set digs.
** Belle Morgan was credited with seven assists in the opening set.
** Providence had six different players record a kill in the first set.
 
SET #2
** Maddie Barber and Kiera Booth led Villanova with four kills each.
** The Wildcats hit .219 in set number two.
** Villanova held Providence to just a .132 hitting percentage.
** Averi Salvador recorded five digs.
 
SET #3
** Neither team led by more than three points the entire set.
** Villanova had set point leading 25-24 by Providence got a kill from Emma Nelson.
** After the Nelson kill, Providence won the set on back-to-back kills by Jennifer Leitman
** Clare Delaplane had seven third set kills.
** Leitman and Nelson had six kills each.
 
SET #4
** With the score tied at 19-19, the Wildcats registered five of the last six points of the set.
** Maddie Barber had two big kills for points 22 and 24 for Villanova.
** Clare Delaplane totaled five kills, while Riley Homer, Mallory Potts and Barber had three kills each.
** Averi Salvador posted seven digs and Andrea Campos had 13 assists.
 
SET #5
** Providence took control of the set early racing to an 8-3 lead.
** Trailing 13-5, the Wildcats ran off three straight points to make it 13-8.
** Providence scored the final two points on a Villanova service error and a Wildcat attack error to win the match.
** Providence tallied one block solo and four block assists in the fifth set. 
** The Friars hit .350 in the final set.