VILLANOVA, Pa. – In its BIG EAST home opener, Villanova volleyball continued its winning ways inside Jake Nevin Fieldhouse, taking down Providence College in straight sets (25-18, 25-22, 25-23). After suffering consecutive defeats to start conference play last weekend, the Wildcats used home-court advantage to get back on track Friday night.
Fresh off a career-high 23 kills last time out at Xavier,
Campbell McKinnon continued to lead the way offensively as she has done all season long for Villanova (8-6, 1-2 BIG EAST), notching a match-high 13 kills while adding three blocks and two service aces. Much like McKinnon,
Alyssa Nelson once again set the standard with a match-high 29 assists on the night, while
Selah O'Connor added eight of her own. Defensively,
Mina Diggs contributed 10 digs alongside a pair of service aces, while
Annika Veurink anchored the net defense with four blocks.
Taylor Lewis (9 kills, 8 digs) and
Abby Harrell (8 kills, 2 aces) rounded out a balanced VU attack.
The opening frame saw Villanova establish control early, jumping out to a 6-2 advantage highlighted by two kills from McKinnon and one apiece from Lewis and Harrell. The Wildcats stretched their cushion to 8-3 following a Diggs service ace, prompting Providence to call its first timeout of the match. The 'Cats maintained their momentum out of the break as O'Connor dished out two consecutive assists to Harrell and McKinnon while adding a kill herself to build a 13-6 lead. The Friars attempted to chip away, but a block from Veurink and McKinnon kept the visitors at bay before a
Reagan McGivern kill forced Providence's final timeout of the set at 19-13. An
Ava Harris service ace and a Providence attack error brought up set point for the Wildcats before Harrell put the finishing touch on a convincing 25-18 set win.
Providence jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the second set, but the Wildcats quickly responded with a 4-0 run sparked by a Lewis kill, an unsuccessful Providence challenge, a McKinnon service ace, and a tandem block from Lewis and Veurink to take a 4-3 edge. The two sides traded early leads, but VU eventually seized control mid-set behind a 5-0 surge. Back-to-back McGivern kills and a block from McKinnon and McGivern forced a Friar timeout at 12-9, which Harrell followed out of the break with another service ace. The visitors mounted a late push, stringing together three straight points to narrow the Wildcats' lead to 21-20. However, McKinnon halted the momentum with a timely kill off a dish from O'Connor, and later dropped in a clutch service ace to bring up set point at 24-21. After Providence saved one set point, Harrell put away a kill from Nelson to secure the 25-22 set victory and extend Villanova's match lead to 2-0.
Villanova kept its foot on the gas to start the third frame, taking control with an early 4-0 run highlighted by kills from McKinnon and Lewis alongside a solo block by Veurink to build a 4-1 lead. The 'Cats continued to surge, using a 5-0 run capped off by a Diggs service ace to extend their cushion to 10-3. VU maintained a comfortable lead through the media break, holding a 15-8 edge following a Providence attack error. The visitors made a late charge down the stretch, using a 4-0 run to shrink the Villanova advantage to 22-21. However,
Loren Winn dropped in a clutch kill off a dish from O'Connor to pause the Providence momentum, and Nelson followed with a service ace to bring up match point at 24-21. After the Friars staved off two match points, a Providence attack error sealed the 25-23 set win and completed the 3-0 sweep for the 'Cats.
UP NEXT: Villanova wraps up its home weekend on Saturday as it hosts the UConn Huskies at Jake Nevin Fieldhouse. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
