Nov. 5, 2000
Box Score
Villanova, Pa. - On Sunday, November 5, the Villanova Wildcats volleyball team hosted the University of Connecticut in a Big East volleyball match. All hopes of an upset on Senior Day were dashed early by Connecticut as they jumped ahead early winning 15-5 and never looked back, finishing of the Wildcats 15-10, 15-3. With the victory Georgetown improves their overall mark to 17-11 and their conference record to 5-5. The loss drops Villanova to 9-19 overall and 2-8 in the Big East.
Leading the way for Villanova on offense was Breen Eddinger (Tacoma, Wash./Bellarmine Prep), Dana Jones (Mt. Kisco, NY/Fox Lane), and Ruth Ann Blankenheim (Lighthouse Point, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons). Eddinger, Jones and Blankenheim all tallied six kills. Eddinger was also a force defensively, recording four digs, two block solos and four block assists. She led all players in the match with six total blocks. Blankenheim also was strong at the net, posting five digs and two block solos. Jones added one dig and one block assist in the effort.
Assisting the duo was freshman Jennifer Edwards (Valencia, Calif./Valencia). Edwards was effective in handing out 24 assists on the evening. She was also a factor defensively, tallying five digs.
Pacing the Connecticut attack was Melissa Wooley, Stephanie Schindel and Christine Lambert. Wooley led the Huskies with 12 kills, while Schindel and Lambert added 11 and 10 respectively. Maria Shaker quarterbacked the Husky offense in handing out 36 assists. Schindel also led the defensive effort by posting 11 digs. Lambert recorded four block assists on the evening.
Prior to the match, Villanova honored each of their five graduating seniors. Completing their final year of eligibility are Breen Eddinger, Ruth Ann Blankenheim, Erin Pfotzer (Newark, Del./Christiana), Lisa Trumbull (Rockford, Ill./Keith School), and Tina Zitterich (Ames, Iowa/Gilbert). During their tenure on the Main Line, the seniors compiled a 50-65 overall record and 15-20 mark in the Big East. Statistically, they tallied 1,212 games played 2,730 kills, 404 assists, 2,195 digs, 113 block solos and 567 block assists. These statistics do not include today's match against Connecticut.
Villanova will be in action next on November 11 when they travel to Georgetown University for a 4:00 PM battle with the Hoyas. The game time was changed from 6:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
