Villanova University

Aug. 29, 2008

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Villanova Volleyball team got the 2008 season underway on Friday, Aug. 29 dropping a 3-2 (21-25, 26-24, 25-21, 12-25, 10-15) match against Northern Colorado in day 1 of the La Salle Invitational.

Three Wildcats notched double figure kills as freshman Morgan Petkovich and senior Dana Tartazky each had 12 kills, while freshman Maggie Mergen posted 11 kills.

Junior Chelsea Graman tallied a double double as she dished out 35 assists and notched 10 digs, while junior Amy Gulyas collected a team-high 19 digs.

Northern Colorado came out strong in the first set, jumping to a 7-2 lead to force the Wildcats into a timeout. VU responded to score four consecutive points and bring the game to 7-6, with Northern Colorado in the lead. A kill from Gulyas pushed the score to 11-10 and to an 11-11 tie following a miscue from the Bears. Tartazky served an ace to close the score at 16-15 with the Wildcats still trailing, but an error from Northern Colorado tied the set at 17. Villanova used its final timeout with Northern Colorado ahead, 23-20, but the Bears served for set point at 24-21 and took the first set, 25-21.

Set two began with each team trading point-for-point. Tartazky smashed a kill to tie the score at 8 and consecutive errors from the Bears gave VU a 10-8 advantage to force Northern Colorado to call a timeout. Petkovich hit a kill to stay in front, 15-13, but the Bears answered to close the score at 15-14. An ace from freshman Kim Maroon forced Northern Colorado to call another timeout with the Wildcats in front, 19-15, but the Bears scored three consecutive points causing the Wildcats to use their first timeout. A kill from the Bears put them ahead, 22-21 as Villanova called its final timeout. The Bears served for set point leading, 24-23, but an error forced the teams into a 24-24 tie. Villanova was able to score two consecutive points to win set two, 26-24.

An early 12-8 advantage from Villanova in set three forced the Bears to the sideline in a timeout. Northern Colorado tied the game at 19 on an ace, but Petkovich connected on a kill and an error from the Bears gave the Wildcats the 21-19 advantage. With VU in front, 23-20 after a kill from Tartazky, Northern Colorado used its final timeout. Freshman Laurie McNamara smashed a kill to give Villanova set point as senior Whitney Harrington had a solo block, giving the `Cats a 25-21 victory in the third set. VU had just four errors and hit .257 while the Bears hit just .152.

Northern Colorado took a 12-7 lead in the fourth set as Villanova called a timeout, but they could not take control of the game as the Bears increased their lead to 17-8 sending the `Cats to the sideline for their final timeout. Harrington connected on a kill to break a 7-0 run from Northern Colorado, but the Bears were able to score four more unanswered points and hold on to a 23-10 lead and then earn a 25-12 victory in the fourth set.

In the fifth and final set, Villanova jumped to a 5-3 lead following a service error from the Bears. Northern Colorado held an 8-7 advantage as the teams switched benches for the final points of the set. VU called timeout trailing 10-7, but the Bears scored two consecutive points as the Wildcats used its final timeout. A block from Harrington and McNamara had VU close the score to 13-9 and a kill from Tartazky took the score to 13-10, with the Bears still in front. Northern Colorado served for match point with a 14-10 lead and was able to finish the set, 15-10, and earn the 3-2 match victory.

The Wildcats will be back on the court Saturday, Aug. 30 at 10 a.m. when they face Lafayette at the La Salle Invitational. VU will also take on Rider at 4:30 p.m.