Oct. 25, 2005
Box Score
Villanova, Pa. - Villanova University (19-5, 6-2 BIG EAST) used two rallies in the third set to overcome a 1-1 set score and gain momentum for a 3-1 win over the visiting Fightin' Blue Hens of the University of Delaware (9-17, 3-8 Colonial Athletic Association) this evening in Nevin Gymnasium.
After each team earned a set, Villanova raced out of the gate in the third game to an 11-5 lead with a setter dump by junior Jenna Link (Wheaton, Ill.). Delaware never tied the game but kept it interesting in the middle, cutting `Nova's lead to two twice. Wildcat junior middle blocker Adrian Semrau (Grafton, Ohio) made an attack error at 17-15 and was called for lifting at 18-16.
A four-point run, which included a right side kill from senior outside hitter Dana Kabashima (Santa Monica, Calif.), a Kabashima service ace, and a kill off the block by freshman outside hitter Alona Cherkez (Crimea, Ukraine) gave Villanova a 22-16 advantage and forced a Blue Hen time out. The Wildcats cruised to 26-18 with another four-point rally, book-ended by back line and cross court kills from Cherkez. A Kacy Sellers (Battle Creek, Mich.) service ace ended the third set and gave Villanova a 2-1 set lead.
`Nova held a thin lead through the first 12 points of the fourth set. UDel came to life and wouldn't give the `Cats an inch, forcing ties at nine, ten, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16. VU took the lead 17-16 after Semrau put down a kill off the block in the front center of the court. Two blocks by Semrau and Link and a swing kill by Link that landed in the back left of the court put Villanova up for good, 20-16. The Blue Hens cut `Nova's edge to 25-22 with a kill by Kelly Gibson, but an attack error by Megan McGrath and a setting miscommunication gave Villanova a 27-22 lead. Two service aces by freshman defensive specialist Emily Brown (Glen Rock, Pa.) ended the match.
Delaware ran out to an 11-4 lead after an attack error by Villanova's Sellers in the first set. VU climbed back to 10-13 after a double contact call on UDel's Kristin Wolchok. The Blue Hens stretched their advantage to 16-10 on a Gibson kill. However, the Wildcats persevered and knotted the score at 17 on a tipped kill by Cherkez.
From then on the game was much closer, the two teams tying at 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 31. Delaware saved two game points, at 28-29 with a Gibson kill and 29-30 after a tipped kill by Colleen Walsh. Villanova saved a game point of their own after UDel went up 31-30 on a block by Allison Lutz and Niecy Taylor. Kabashima connected on a cross court kill to again tie the game 31 apiece. An attack error by Taylor put Villanova up 1-0.
Villanova and Delaware continued to fight through the beginning of the second set, tying nine times before either team earned 15 points. The Blue Hens moved out to 15-14 after capitalizing on a miscommunication by `Nova. A 10-3 run by UDel, capped by a Walsh kill off the block, extended Delaware's advantage to 25-17. A block by Semrau and Kelly Ludwig stopped the run, but the Blue Hens maintained a healthy lead. Villanova saved three game points at 29-25, 29-26, and 29-27 with two kills from Sellers and an attacking miscue by UDel. A kill from Walsh evened the set score to 1-1.
Neither team hit well for the match, Villanova hitting .096 while Delaware hit .103. The defense from both teams was stellar, with the Wildcats only narrowly out-blocking the Hens 14.0 to 13.0 and holding a slim 92-83 edge in digs.
Both teams had two players turn in double doubles. Delaware's Walsh connected on 16 kills and had 11 digs, while Gibson added 15 kills and 14 digs in the loss. Taylor had nine kills and nine blocks for UDel. Libero Heather Ranck recorded a match-best 35 digs.
For Villanova, Cherkez contributed her third straight double double (15k, career-high 23 digs) and Kabashima posted her second of the year (10k, 13 digs). Link (12), Sellers (10), senior outside hitter Celine Nguyen (Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif.) (12) and senior libero Megan Bye (14) joined Cherkez and Kabashima in double figure digs. Sellers also had nine kills, a team-best hitting efficiency of .280 and six blocks.
