Nov. 12, 2005

Box Score

Freshman outside hitter Alona Cherkez (Crimea, Ukraine) and junior middle blocker Adrian Semrau (Grafton, Ohio) led the Wildcats of Villanova University (20-10, 7-6 BIG EAST) in a tough fight, but 'Nova succombed to No. 8 Notre Dame (23-2, 12-1 BIG EAST) 3-0 in the Joyce Center this morning.

The game scores were 13-30, 25-30, and 23-30.

`Nova fell behind early in set one as the Irish went on two runs of five and six points to take a 13-4 lead. The Wildcats strung together three consecutive kills to get within three, 7-4, after sophomore middle blocker Kacy Sellers (Battle Creek, Mich.), senior outside hitter Celine Nguyen (Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif.), and Semrau found the floor. ND's six point run was ignited on the next point by a tip kill by Lauren Brewster.

Notre Dame used another four point run to move out to 19-7. Villanova cut the Irish's lead to 11, 21-10, on a sharply angled touch kill by CherkezND won the game with a kill from Adrianna Stasiuk.

Villanova hung with the Irish early in game two. A Semrau kill drew first blood. A setter dump by junior Jenna Link (Wheaton, Ill.) gave `Nova a 2-1 lead, and the `Cats briefly held the lead again, 7-6, after a service ace by Cherkez. But Notre Dame rallied with a seven-point run to move out to a 13-7 advantage. The Irish maintained a comfortable lead until the Wildcats built up steam near the end of the game.

After a `Nova time out at 28-20 ND, Cherkez put down an offspeed kill, Sellers and senior outside hitter Dana Kabashima (Santa Monica, Calif.) blocked an Irish attack, Cherkez connected on a kill down the right line, and Link served up an ace to cut Notre Dame's lead to 28-24. But a Brewster kill gave ND game point, and the `Cats ended the game with a service error.

'Nova took an early 2-0 lead on a kill off the block by Cherkez and an attack error on ND's Lauren Kelbley in game three. The two teams remained tight, tying the score six times before either team reached ten points. The Irish took an 8-7 edge on a block by Carolyn Cooper and Stasiuk. The Irish were able to stay one point ahead of the 'Cats, and ND was able to extend its lead to 18-13. A kill off the slide by Semrau ended the rally.

VU was able to cut the Irish's lead to 25-20 on a Cherkez kill off the block on the right. However, Notre Dame was able to moved back out to a seven-point lead with a service ace at 28-21. The 'Cats saved one match point wiht a Nguyen cross court kill.

Cherkez posted her team-leading 14th double double, with 12 kills and 11 digs. Semrau joined Cherkez in double figure kills, connecting on 11 and hitting a team-best .409.