Sept. 20, 2008
Box Score
VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Villanova volleyball squad made quick work of La Salle on Saturday afternoon in the fourth match of the Villanova Classic held in Jake Nevin Fieldhouse. The Wildcats picked up their second consecutive 3-0 victory by defeating La Salle (3-9) with set scores of 25-19, 25-17 and 25-15.
Villanova (7-5) was led by freshmen Morgan Petkovich and Maggie Mergen who tallied 12 and 10 kills respectively. Mergen hit .412 in the three sets, while Petkovich hit .409.
Juniors Elysse Studzinki and Amy Gulyas each connected on nine kills with no errors to hit a .529 and .474 attack percentage respectively.
Junior Chelsea Graman gave out 24 assists, while freshmen Courtney Oertli handed out 17. Freshman Kim Maroon collected a career-high 19 digs.
Petkovich connected on a kill in the first set to give the Wildcats an 11-10 lead, but the Explorers were able to fight and take 16-15 lead over the Wildcats. After falling behind to VU, 21-18, La Salle used its final timeout. Holding onto a 22-19 lead, Mergen served the final three points as the `Cats earned a 25-19 victory in set one.
A kill from Mergen put Villanova ahead, 10-6 in the second frame as a kill from senior Whitney Harrington and back-to-back kill from Gulyas put the `Cats in front, 18-12 and forced the Explorers to call timeout. Holding on to a 22-16 lead Gulyas served consecutive aces to take a 24-16 lead as Mergen closed the victory with a kill.
Villanova was dominant in the third stanza as Oertli served for five points and the Wildcats took a commanding 8-1 lead forcing La Salle into an early break. A kill from Gulyas kept VU in front, 14-9, as the Explorers used their final timeout, but Villanova came out of the break to go on a 6-3 run and stay ahead, 20-12. La Salle would score just three more points as freshman Kara Chatham served the match's final three points and gave Villanova a 25-15 victory.
The Wildcats combined to hit .340 while holding La Salle to a .107 attack percentage as a team.
The Wildcats have a break until 7 p.m., but will return to the court to take on Penn in the Villanova Classic's final match of the weekend.
