VILLANOVA, Pa. -- The Villanova Wildcats (10-6 overall, 1-3 BIG EAST) finish out a four-match homestand this week, playing host to Connecticut and Providence in a pair of BIG EAST contests.

SO WE MEET AGAIN
Two longtime Villanova foes come to Jake Nevin Field House this weekend, with the Wildcats combining for 81 matches against Connecticut and Providence. VU owns winning records against both squads, maintaining a 22-13 mark against the Huskies while the series with the Friars is a bit closer at 26-20 in favor of the 'Cats. Recently, Vilanova's success in the series against these squads has varied greatly. UConn has won the last five matchups against the Wildcats, with Villanova's last win coming back in March of 2020 when the 'Cats picked up a four-set victory. Prior to that, Villanova had won five of the previous seven contests against the Huskies dating back to 2009. Against Providence, though, it's been VU dominance since 2001. In that stretch since the turn of the century, the Wildcats have dropped just four matches to the Friars, with three in a row coming during 2021. PC's last win on the Main Line came all the way back in 1999, before any current rostered players were born.

CAPTIVATING CAMPOS
Potentially the most important member of this year's Villanova team has been setter Andrea Campos, who has been given the keys to this offense this year and has led it spectacularly. The senior ranks second in the conference and 33rd nationally in terms of total assists, racking up 581 helpers on the year and spreading the ball around to the tune of three 140-kill players. After mainly playing in a 6-2 offense last year, Campos has taken the reins of the team this year and added value defensively with 110 digs and 17 blocks on the season while remaining one of Villanova's toughest servers at 12 aces.

HONING IN ON THE HUSKIES   

• Connecticut currently sits last in the BIG EAST with an overall record of 5-11 and an 0-4 mark in conference play. The Huskies were swept twice in the BIG EAST opening weekend by Seton Hall and St. John's, but picked up three sets total against DePaul and Marquette. 
• Outside of league opponents, the Huskies have two common foes with the Wildcats and fared the exact same against them, falling to Lehigh and sweeping Sacred Heart. 
• The fifth-ranked team in the preseason poll, Connecticut sits in the bottom third of the lead in each major category, with the top mark being seventh in service aces while pulling in at ninth in hitting percentage & blocks and 10th for assists & kills.
• Emma Werkmeister (181) is the team's top attacker among four 100-kill players, with Doga Kutlu leading the team at 379 assists and placing second in digs (175). 
• Libero Karly Berkland is one of three UConn players to rank in the BIG EAST's top 10 of any category, placing fourth in aces per set and ninth in total digs. 

PREVIEWING PROVIDENCE

• Providence experienced a similar start to its New England counterpart, beginning the season 6-10 with four straight losses to open BIG EAST action. PC swept the Friar Classic, taking down Saint Peter's, Central Connecticut State and Bryant, but owns just three wins otherwise.
• The Friars have struggled mightily offensively, coming in last in the league in hitting percentage, assists and kills on the year. Providence will serve tough, though, leading the conference in service aces at 104, while middling in blocks (fifth), opponent hitting percentage (seventh) and digs (ninth). 
• Shaliyah Rhoden is the squad's top attacker with 172 kills and Macy Taylor adds 144 terminations thus far on the year.
• PC's setter Sammie Ruggles leads the conference at 27 total service aces and middle blocker Kayla Grant ranks first in total blocks, while freshman libero Savannah Ivie is seventh in digs per set.

Both matches, set for 4 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday, will feature video coverage on FloSports and stat links on StatBroadcast.