SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Villanova volleyball began its 2024 campaign with a loss, falling to the Santa Clara Broncos in four sets (25-23, 16-25, 18-25, 14-25) on Friday night.

Abby Harrell and Tara Garvey each totaled double-digit kills for Villanova (0-1) with Harrell recording 11 and Garvey contributing 10. Elizabeth Feczko compiled a match-high 16 digs and three service aces with Ozzie Ozonoh adding a career-high four blocks.

Four Wildcats made their career debuts in the match with Taylor Lewis, Campbell McKinnon and Alyssa Nelson each earning their first collegiate starts. McKinnon tallied six kills and three blocks on .462 hitting as Lewis put up four kills and four total blocks.

Nelson paced the 'Cats with 16 assists in her collegiate lidlifter while Lola Buck-Taylor earned her first Wildcat time as the libero in the fourth set.

The Wildcats took an edge early in the first set, being the first to both 10 and 15 for a five-point lead at the media timeout. Santa Clara battled back and tied things up at 17-17, but the 'Cats outlasted the Broncos to capture the year's opening game 25-23.

Santa Clara grabbed a six-point advantage in stanza two going into the media pause and hit .471 in the frame en route to a 25-16 victory.

It was a more hotly contested third with the squads trading points up until a 5-0 SC run created some distance in the frame. Villanova got it back within three multiple times, but the Broncos closed it out with three straight to go up two sets to one.

The home side jumped all over the Wildcats in the fourth, following a 3-3 start with seven of eight points to pull away and escape with a victory in four sets.

UP NEXT: The 'Cats will remain in California for one more contest, taking on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.