SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Villanova volleyball begins its quest to return to the postseason on Friday evening, heading to the Leavey Center on the campus of Santa Clara University for the season-opening Catholic Challenge with a matchup against Notre Dame as well as the host Broncos set for the weekend.
NEW LOOK NOVA
It'll be a new look Villanova lineup in 2024 as the 'Cats no longer have five of last year's starters, including the libero, setter and both middle blockers. Reigning conference freshman of the year
Abby Harrell will look to build off a stellar debut campaign, graduate student
Riley Homer sits just double digit kills away from 1000 in her career and team captain
Elizabeth Feczko will re-claim her sophomore year position as the starting libero. Expanded roles are due for middle
Ozzie Ozonoh who's battled back from injury as well as two promising young hitters in sophomore
Marly Smith and junior
Tara Garvey.
AWESOME ADDITIONS
But perhaps the biggest key to VU's success in 2024 is a seven-member class of newcomers, many of which will be relied on in their first year on the Main Line. Graduate student
Taylor Jakubowski transferred to Villanova in the spring after a four-year career at Seton Hall and will be important as a captain and setter after over 1700 assists at SHU. And joining Jakubowski is a six-person freshman class that is highly regarded in the VU gym, with multiple starters expected out of the group.
Campbell McKinnon is a springy first-year middle,
Alyssa Nelson "could be the purest location setter I've recruited here" per head coach
Josh Steinbach,
Taylor Lewis and
Cat Young provide promise as six-rotation outsides and
Lola Buck-Taylor will immediately compete for time in the back row as a smooth-moving defender.
CATHOLIC CHALLENGE
This year's iteration of the Catholic Challenge brings Villanova and Notre Dame out to Santa Clara, switching coasts from last year's tournament hosted in Pennsylvania. It was even as could be last season with each squad going 1-1 in its two matches. Notre Dame took the opener between the Irish and VU by overpowering the 'Cats with nine blocks. But Santa Clara toppled ND on Saturday afternoon in a back-and-forth five-set bout to remain unbeaten to that point, up until the Wildcats defeated the Broncos in four sets thanks to Harrell's 19-kill double-double.
BREAKING DOWN THE BRONCOS
- Santa Clara wrapped up last season with a record of 12-16, going 4-12 in conference bouts.
- Returning to the squad is redshirt junior opposite hitter Elena Radeff who earned All-WCC Preseason Team honors after averaging 2.76 kills per set a season ago. Also coming back in the front row are hitters Layla Truitt (238 kills) and Oren Abutbul (199 kills, 55 blocks).
- Setter Nive Tuileta is back for her senior season after leading the way with 961 assists and 34 aces, as well as All-WCC Freshman teamer Alyssa Eimer who looks to take the mantle as starting libero.
- The Broncos added a pair of Power 5 transfers to the outside hitter core in the offseason in Boston College's Alayna Crabtree and Michigan State's Selin Aslayan.
FOLLOWING THE FIGHTING IRISH
- Notre Dame went 11-15 in the 2023 campaign with a 5-13 mark in the ACC slate despite taking down the 'Cats in three sets in last year's Catholic Challenge.
- Outside hitter Sydney Palazzolo headlines the returners for the Irish after earning All-ACC Second Team with 389 kills (3.85 per set), 50 aces and 210 digs as a junior. ND's starting libero Hattie Monson (397 digs) returns for a graduate season and Ava Lange comes back from a 228-kill freshman year, but gone are the leading assister and blocker from last year's squad.
- ND added former Saint Mary's setter Ella Sandt, a four year-starter for the Gaels, in the offseason in addition to a six-person freshman class.
Streaming for Friday's match will be available with a subscription to ESPN+ while Saturday's will be a single-cam, no-broadcaster feed on Santa Clara's Sidearm site. Stat links can be found on StatBroadcast with Friday's matchup set to begin at 7 p.m. Eastern while Saturday starts at 4 p.m. ET.
Keep up with the Villanova University volleyball program through social media by following on X formerly known as Twitter (@NovaVolleyball) and Instagram (@novavolleyball) and 'liking' on Facebook (/NovaVolleyball).
