Oct. 25, 2009
Box Score
BRONX, N.Y. - With a weekend off of BIG EAST action, the Villanova volleyball squad traveled to Fordham on Sunday afternoon, but dropped a 3-2 (17-25, 16-25, 25-19, 26-24, 9-15) contest to the Rams.
Sophomore Maggie Mergen led Villanova (16-7) with 17 kills and just to errors to hit .417. Senior Amy Gulyas notched a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs, while classmate Elysse Studzinski was also in double figures with 11 kills.
Sophomore Courtney Oertli dished out 40 assists and classmate Kim Maroon collected 17 digs.
After dropping the first two sets, Villanova was able to extend the match by taking the third frame, 25-19. Gulyas had five of her 10 kills in this set, while Mergen notched four kills and no errors. The Wildcats combined to hit .225 and held the Rams to just 0.77. `Nova was quick to jump out to a 6-2 lead, but Fordham returned as the set was tied at 17 following a kill from the Rams. Mergen connected on for two final kills to put the set away.
In the fourth frame, the teams traded points back and forth before Fordham called a timeout holding on to a 13-10 lead after back-to-back kills from Studzinski. Five errors from the Rams gave the Wildcats a 17-14 advantage, but Fordham tied the score at 20 following a kill. Sophomore Maria Nolan connected for a kill and an error from the Rams gave Villanova set point, but two errors saw the score tied again at 24 each. Mergen found the floor for back-to-back kills to forced a fifth and deciding set in the 26-24 victory.
The Wildcats trailed early in the fifth set as Fordham jumped to a 4-1 advantage and pushed it to 11-6 as `Nova called timeout. Studzinski connected for a kill following the break, but the Rams scored three unanswered points and extended their lead to 13-8. Gulyas found the floor for a kill, but Fordham took the set, 15-9, to win the match.
Villanova returns to BIG EAST play on Oct. 30 for its final homestand of the season. The Wildcats will host USF at 7:00 p.m.
