September 20, 1998

ATHENS, Ga. - Searching for answers, the Villanova Volleyball team traveled to campus of the University of Georgia to participate in the 1998 Outback Invitational. After getting swept last weekend in Los Angeles, the Wildcats were determined to turn the tide as they faced another tough weekend of volleyball. In the opening game, Villanova matched up against Duke University. Not able to gain momentum early in the match, the Wildcats fell in three games to the Blue Devils 15-9, 15-11, 15-4. For Duke, Sarah Peifer had 13 kills and 10 digs while junior Jami Ediger tallied 12 digs.

After dropping their fourth straight match, Villanova was looking for anything to fall their way. In their second contest of tournament, the Wildcats dropped the first game 15-13 to the host, Georgia. After their first game, seniors Elizabeth Jones and Megan O'Brien took it upon themselves to bring victory to the Main Line. Combining for 32 kills and 29 digs, the California Connection reappeared for the first time in '98, leading the Wildcats past the Bulldogs in four games, 13-15, 15-3, 15-6, 15-11. Also helping the Cats cause was Breen Eddinger who tallied 16 kills and nine digs.

In their finale, a fatigued Villanova team faced Oral Roberts University. Giving it all they had, the Wildcats were unable to catch up to ORU as 'Nova lost in straight games 15-2, 15-1, 15-9. ORU was led by Juliana Moser who tallied nine kills, while Carol Pachedo had eight kills and 11 digs in the victory. For the Wildcats, Megan O'Brien recorded four kills and eight digs.

Villanova travels to the University of Delaware this Wednesday (Sept. 23) and they play co-host next weekend of the Villanova-Drexel Classic. Other teams participating in the tournament are Tulsa, Rice, St. Peter's, Wagner, Delaware State, Lafayette.

Game #1

            1  2  3
VILLANOVA   9 11  4
DUKE       15 15 15

Assists-Villanova (35), Moline (32), Duke (42), Rybak (38); Kills-Villanova (41), Jones (17), O'Brien (9), Eddinger (9), Duke (45), Peifer (13), Irvine (9), Ediger (6), Stephens (6); Digs-Villanova (41), Fucci (9), Blankenheim (9), Jones (7), O'Brien (7), Duke (52), Ediger (12), Gottfred (11), Peifer (10).

Game #2

            1  2  3  4
VILLANOVA  13 15 15 15
GEORGIA    15  6  3 11

Assists-Villanova (53), Moline (49), Georgia (48), Westfall (47); Kills-Villanova (58), Jones (16), O'Brien (16), Eddinger (16), Georgia (51), Buerger (14), Vis (14), Dady (11); Digs-Villanova (63), O"Brien (17), Jones (12), Blankenheim (11), Eddinger (9), Georgia (73), Buerger (21), Keese (13), Dady (11), Vis (10).

Game #3

                1  2  3
VILLANOVA       2  1  9
ORAL ROBERTS   15 15 15

Assists-Villanova (14), Moline (14), Oral Roberts (35), dos Santos (29); Kills-Villanova (17), O'Brien (4), Eddinger (4), Holcomb (4), Oral Roberts (38) Moser (9), Pachedo (8), Komel (7); Digs-Villanova (35), O'Brien (8), Moline (6), Blankenheim (5), Oral Roberts (42), Pachedo (11), Komel (9), dos Santos (8), Cody (8).