OMAHA, Neb. -- Villanova softball returns to the diamond for a three-game series this weekend, heading to Omaha for a trio of contests with the Creighton Bluejays. Due to rain in the area later in the weekend, Sunday's game has been cancelled and Friday has become a twin bill.

BATTLE WITH THE BLUEJAYS
It's another iteration of the series between Villanova and Creighton, exactly 10 years to the day of the first BIG EAST bout featuring these two sides. VU leads the all-time series 15-10 with a six-game edge in conference bouts, though Creighton emerged victorious in the only non-league game back in 2006. The Wildcats have dominated recently, capturing wins in the last six matchups after sweeps in both 2022 and 2023. Creighton's last wins over VU came in 2019 when the Jays won the last two games to capture the series. The series is dead even when played in Omaha, as each squad owns six wins at the Creighton Sports Complex despite Villanova winning all three during the 2022 campaign. 

LIVING BY THE LONG BALL
As has become tradition under head coach Bridget Orchard and hitting coach Gabby Luety, the Wildcats are built on power. So far in 2024, Villanova has already blasted 37 dingers, which ties for fifth in program history for a single season with 18 games still to play. The 'Cats are averaging 1.16 homers per game, leading the conference and 24th in the nation. And it's been coming from everyone, with five players belting five or more bombs and first career tanks coming off the bats of four Wildcats. Villanova's power came to a head in the 17-5 victory at Providence on March 17, where five players sent balls out of the yard.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING? 
It has the opportunity to be a historic weekend for the Wildcats, as an 11-0 start in BIG EAST play is well within reach and would mark the best conference start in Villanova history. At 9-0, the 'Cats are already in the midst of the second greatest beginning to a league season that they've ever had, eclipsing 7-0 in 2004 and only trailing a 10-0 debut in the 2001 campaign. With victories in the first two games of the series, the 2024 Villanova roster can etch its name into the record books for the best BIG EAST start in program history, but the 21-15 Creighton Bluejays will have something to say about it.

CHECKING OUT CREIGHTON 

• The Bluejays enter the weekend with a third place ranking in the BIG EAST standings, owning a 21-15 overall record for the top win-loss percentage in the league as well as six victories in nine conference contests.
• Creighton has won two of its three BIG EAST series to this point, taking two of three from St. John's and sweeping Georgetown while dropping a pair against Seton Hall, who Villanova swept to begin its league slate.
• The Jays have a trio of hitters batting over .300 with starts in all 36 games: Cayla Nielsen, Madeline Vejvoda and Lily West. The club's home run leader with eight is freshman Sydney Potter, who's also tops in the BIG EAST for dingers.
• CU has a pair of pitchers with appearances in more than half of the team's games this year, sophomore righty Natalia Puchino and Wichita State transfer Kenzie Schopfer. Puchino leads the conference in shutouts (three) and victories (14), while Schopfer surrenders just a .239 average against.

Live stat links for each of the games this week can be found at villanova.statbroadcast.com, and all three contests will stream on FloSoftball.

Keep up with the Villanova University softball program through social media by following on Twitter (@VUSoftball) and Instagram (@novasoftball) and 'liking' on Facebook (/VUSoftball).