Nov. 11, 2006

Final Stats

Storrs, Conn. - The Wilcats (16-14, 7-6 BIG EAST) took to the road for the final weekend of BIG EAST play and got started on the wrong foot, falling to the University of Connecticut (18-10, 7-6) in three games. Although the match was a sweep, the Wildcats lost by a total of seven points and were never able to make it all the way back to pick up a win in any of the games.

In the first game, Villanova held a 26-24 lead over the Huskies, but following a UConn timeout, the home team was able to rally in the closing moments and pullout a 30-28 win.

Game two provided Villanova with their best chance to pick up a game, leading 30-29. However, the Huskies would not give in and we able to pick up two kills and take advantage of a Villanova ball handling error to win 32-30.

In what turned out to be the final game of the afternoon, the Huskies were able to find a way to come back at the end, after trailing 23-22 to the Wilcats. As was the case in the first two games, the Wildcats could not come up with an answer down the stretch of the game, and fell, 30-27.

Individually for Villanova, senior Adrian Semrau (Grafton, Ohio) led the offense with 10 kills and also led the defense at the net, registering seven blocks. Alona Cherkez (Crimea, Ukraine) added nine kills and 19 digs, a team high. Dana Tartasky (Haifa, Israel) also reached double digit digs with 10. Chelsea Graman had 23 assists to pace the Wildcats in that category.

As a team, Villanova hit a season low .039, while the Huskies were able to manage just .168.

With the loss, Villanova is now tied with USF and UConn for seventh and eight place. The Wildcats are in a difficult position, because they lost to both the Bulls and the Huskies. So they will be looking for either of those two teams to lose on Sunday, while they must get past St. John's. The match with St. John's is scheduled to start at 5 PM.