Villanova University

Nov. 19, 2010

Box Score

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - After trailing the first two sets, the No. 4 seed Villanova volleyball team (23-7) mounted a comeback, but fell 3-1 (20-25, 17-25, 25-21, 25-14) to No. 5 Notre Dame in the BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinals Friday morning at Fitzgerald Fieldhouse.

Redshirt sophomore Morgan Petkovich led the squad with 18 kills, while junior Maggie Mergen recorded 12 kills. Freshman Allison Williams tallied eight kills in the match and had five blocks.

Freshman Alyssa Anderson dished out a match-high 44 assists and collected nine digs.

Junior Kim Maroon collected 19 digs, while freshman Mariah Henley recorded 14.

The Wildcats got off to a strong start in the first set. A kill from sophomore Krista Andersen put Villanova on top, 9-5 and sophomore CeCe Twitty found the floor for a kill to extend the lead to 10-5 as the Irish called a timeout. After the break, Petkovich served an ace and Mergen smashed a kill to keep Villanova in front, 14-6. Notre Dame scored five consecutive points as the Wildcats used their first timeout after their lead was cut to three points, 14-11. The teams traded points back and forth, but Villanova used its final timeout after the Irish took a 22-20 lead. After a kill Notre Dame earned set point, 24-20 and the Irish took the first set, 25-20. Petkovich connected on four of six attempts and the `Cats hit .314, but Notre Dame combined for a .357 hitting percentage.

In the second frame the Irish took an early lead in the second frame, but Villanova cut it to two points, 9-7 after an ace from Anderson. Sophomore CeCe Twitty and freshman Williams combined for a block and a kill from K. Andersen kept the `Cats within two points, 13-11. Villanova trailed 15-12 at the media timeout and could not get closer trailing 20-15 and using its first timeout. Williams and Twitty combined for another block, but the Irish still led, 23-17. An ace from Notre Dame sealed the victory in set two, 25-17. Mergen connected for five kills in the frame, but the Wildcats had eight errors and hit just .064.

Villanova came out in the third set with new energy as the teams traded points back-and-forth early on. A combined assist from Petkovich and Williams tied the score at 12-12. Williams helped Villanova to three points combining with Twitty on two blocks and smashing a kill to give the `Cats a 15-13 advantage heading in to a media timeout. Mergen found the floor for a kill at 17-15 and after a service error, Notre Dame called a timeout with Villanova leading 19-16. The Irish quickly used their final timeout after a hitting error extended the Wildcats' lead to 21-17. Williams found the floor for a kill and Petkovich gave Villanova set point at 24-20 after a kill. The Irish extended the game by one play, but Twitty connected for a final kill giving `Nova a 25-21 victory. Petkovich was stellar in the set slamming eight kills, while Williams connected on four.

In the fourth set the teams traced points early, but Villanova took an 8-7 lead after Mergen found the floor for a kill. A long volley ended in another kills from Mergen, but the Wildcats trailed 10-9. The Irish held a 15-10 lead heading into the media timeout. Petkovich launched a service ace at 16-12, but Villanova called a timeout after Notre Dame scored three unanswered points and led 19-12. The Irish earned set point 24-14 and won the set 25-14 following a kill to win the match in four sets.

Notre Dame was led by Kristen Dealy and Hilary Eppink with 15 kills apiece. Frenchy Silva collected 21 digs.