Final Stats

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Villanova volleyball team got the win in its first BIG EAST home match of the season with a 25-22, 25-19, 25-21 straight set win over Marquette on Friday night in the Jake Nevin Field House.

The Wildcats (12-4, 2-1 BIG EAST) were led by double digit kills from Claire Crutchfield (Falls Church, Va./Bishop O'Connell) and Allie Loitz (Bonita, Calif./Bonita Vista) with 13 kills and 11 kills, respectively.

"It's a really good win," said Villanova head coach Josh Steinbach. "For us to get them in here and get the win in general, but the way we did with a sweep, feels really good."

Loitz also led the Wildcats in blocks with five and was among the team leaders with seven digs.

Allison Fitzgerald (St. Louis, Mo./Visitation Academy) led the team in that category with 14 digs while Emma Pettit (Ft. Collins, Colo./Fossil Ridge) passed out 40 assists.

The Golden Eagles (10-6, 2-2 BIG EAST) were led by freshman Taylor Louis. Louis recorded a 13 kills, 10 dig double-double in a losing effort.

In the first set Villanova put together a 4-0 run to break a tie and take the lead 7-3. Eventually the Wildcats ballooned the lead to 18-10 but a 10-2 Marquette run got the Golden Eagles right back to a tied score. A needed service ace from Fitzgerald gave the Wildcats the lead for good as they wento on to take the set 25-22.

The second set was a seesaw battle at the beginning until the 'Cats used an 8-2 run to take a 19-13 lead late in the set. The six point cushion held up as Villanova claimed the set on a Crutchfield kill.

Villanvoa jumped out to a 5-1 lead but then gave the lead right back. Marquette scored the next seven points to lead 8-5 and force a Steinbach timeout.

"We just talked about what we wanted to do that particular play," continued Steinbach. "It was early in the set and they weren't panicking at all, they were pretty calm."

That calmness showed as a 5-0 Wildcat run got the lead back for the home team for the final time. Loitz combined on a pair of stuff blocks in clutch situation and ended the match with the final kill.

The straight set win over Marquette is the Wildcats eighth such win on the season, two coming in conference play.

The Villanova volleyball team plays tomorrow (Oct. 3) against DePaul in the the Jake Nevin Field House at 7:00pm.

Short Box Score (Match) 2015 Villanova Volleyball Marquette vs Villanova (Oct 2, 2015 at Villanova, Pa.)

Villanova def. Marquette 25-22,25-19,25-21

Marquette (10-6, 2-2 BIG EAST) (Kills-aces-blocks) - LOUIS, Taylor 13-1-0; MILEY, Joy 9-0-3; ROSENTHAL, Jenna 6-0-5; NIEMANN, Meghan 4-0-3; SCHNURR, Teal 4-0-4; Blasier, Sara 1-0-2; BARNES, Nikki 1-1-0; Totals 38-2-9.5. (Assists) - Blasier, Sara 26. (Dig leaders) - HOUG, Lauren 16; HAYS, Ellen 12; LOUIS, Taylor 11

Villanova (12-4, 2-1 BIG EAST) (Kills-aces-blocks) - CRUTCHFIELD, Claire 13-0-0; Loitz, Allie 11-1-5; PEDERSEN-HENRY, A. 8-1-2; Carpenter, Lauren 6-0-1; Pethokoukis, Gabby 4-0-4; Pettit, Emma 3-0-0; Knight, Ashley 0-1-0; Adams, Michelle 0-1-0; Fitzgerald, Allison 0-1-0; Totals 45-5-7.0. (Assists) - Pettit, Emma 40. (Dig leaders) - Fitzgerald, Allison 14; Adams, Michelle 9; Carpenter, Lauren 8; Pettit, Emma 8

Site: Villanova, Pa. (Nevin Field House) Date: Oct 2, 2015 Attend: 758 Time: 1:29 Referees: Ed Tucholski, James McDonald