Oct. 18, 2005
Box Score
Villanova, Pa. - The Villanova University Wildcats (17-5, 5-2 BIG EAST) overcame a slow start and saved four game points in the first set en route to a 31-29, 30-25, 30-24 win over the visiting Quakers of the University of Pennsylvania (6-10, 3-2 Ivy League) this evening in Nevin Gymnasium.
Penn earned game point, 29-24, in the first set with a service ace by Cara Thomason. But Villanova answered with four straight kills from Adrian Semrau (Grafton, Ohio) and Alona Cherkez (Crimea, Ukraine) and a solo block by Kacy Sellers (Battle Creek, Mich.) that pulled the Wildcats even at 29. The Quakers gave `Nova game point with a double contact, and VU took the first game after an attack error by Penn's Amy Starosta.
In the second set, Villanova and UPenn tied at two, four, six and seven before a Celine Nguyen (Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif.) kill gave the Wildcats an 8-7 lead. `Nova relinquished its lead only briefly, 14-13, after a Cherkez attack error. The `Cats extended their advantage back to 23-17 on a Semrau kill. Penn wouldn't give up, however, and crept to within one, 23-22, on a block by Kira Campbell and Starosta. Villanova rode a four point rally to take the second game.
After two early ties, VU moved out to an 8-4 lead on a kill by Semrau in the third game. The Quakers knotted the score at ten apiece with a Kathryn Turner service ace. `Nova regained the advantage for good, 11-10, after Cherkez connected on a kill down the middle. Penn tied the game twice more, at 15 on a block by Anna Shilmak and Stephanie Gwin and at 16 after a Villanova digging error, but the `Cats held off the Quakers, taking a 27-20 lead on a Semrau kill on the slide and ending the match seven points later.
The two teams played to 7-7 in the first set before an eight-point run by the Quakers, book-ended by kills from Turner, gave Penn a 15-7 lead. UPenn stayed in front of the Wildcats, getting offense from Starosta and Thomason until Villanova climbed back to within two, 21-19, after an attack error by Thomason. The Quakers stayed ahead courtesy of two errors by the `Cats and continued on to a 28-24 advantage after a kill by Laura Black.
Villanova's Semrau led all players with 19 kills on 34 attempts to hit a match-best .412. Nguyen and Cherkez each recorded a double double. Nguyen contributed 11 kills and 14 digs, while Cherkez added 14 kills and 13 digs. Villanova had five players in double figures for digs. Cherkez and Nguyen were joined by Jenna Link (Wheaton, Ill.) (11), Dana Kabashima (Santa Monica, Calif.) (11) and Megan Bye (Englewood, Colo.) (12). Link registered a career-high four service aces.
