Final Stats

OMAHA, Neb. - The Villanova volleyball team was defeated 25-18, 25-18, 25-17 by No. 1 seeded Creighton in Saturday's BIG EAST Championship match in Omaha, Nebraska.

Creighton earns the BIG EAST's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament while Villanova looks to grab one of 32 available at-large bids.

"We put up an RPI that gets us in the range of making the tournament," said Villanova head coach Josh Steinbach. "We would liked to have taken it out of the committee's hands but we couldn't do that today."

The Wildcats (25-8 overall) were led by sophomore defensive specialist Allison Fitzgerald (St. Louis, Mo./Visitation Academy) who led the team with a game-high 19 digs.

Allie Loitz (Bonita, Calif./Bonita Vista) led the Wildcats offensively with nine kills while Gabby Pethokoukis (Western Springs, Ill./Benet Academy) and Amanda Pedersen-Henry (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta High) added seven kills each.

Creighton (25-8 overall) was led by the tournament's most outstanding player Jess Bird who recorded 14 kills and eight digs.

Villanova, who had eight aces in the semifinal match against Creighton, did not have a service ace while Creighton out blocked the Wildcats 11-3.

The first set was tied 4-4 until Creighton scored three straight points. Villanova closed the gap to 7-6 but a 6-0 Bluejay run gave Creighton a 13-6 advantage. Villanova played evenly with the home team the rest of the way but dropped the set 25-18.

Creighton scored the first two points of the second set and led the whole way. A 4-0 run turned a 3-2 score into a 7-2 lead. Villanova got within three points, 14-11, until a 5-1 run by the Bluejays. Again, Villanova got down by seven and could not cut into the lead, dropping the set 25-18.

The third and final set was close for the first half and was a one point set at 15-14. Creighton ended the match on a 10-3 run to take the win.

The Villanova volleyball team will tune into ESPNU tomorrow (Nov. 29) night at 9:00pm eastern for the Division I Volleyball Selection Show.

"We've had a great season and we feel good about where we are," continued Steinbach. "We'll sit back tomorrow and watch with interest but ultimately it's not up to us. Hopefully they call out name."

All-Tournament Team

Abbey Bessler - Xavier
Taylor Louis - Marquette
Amanda Pedersen-Henry - Villanova
Emma Pettit - Villanova
Kate Elman - Creighton
Maggie Baumert - Creighton
Jess Bird - Creighton

Short Box Score (Match)
2015 Villanova Volleyball
Villanova vs Creighton (Nov 28, 2015 at Omaha, Neb.)

Creighton def. Villanova 25-18,25-18,25-17

Villanova (25-8) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Loitz, Allie 9-0-0;
Pethokoukis, Gabby 7-0-0; PEDERSEN-HENRY, A. 7-0-2; CRUTCHFIELD,
Claire 4-0-0; Carpenter, Lauren 3-0-2; Pettit, Emma 2-0-1; Totals
32-0-3.0. (Assists) - Pettit, Emma 24. (Dig leaders) - FITZGERALD,
Allison 19; Adams, Michelle 7

Creighton (25-8) (Kills-aces-blocks) - WINTERS,Jaali 18-0-2; BIRD,Jess
14-0-4; SMITH,Lauren 5-0-4; KLOTH,Taryn 5-0-4; WILKINSON,Marysa 3-0-6;
BAUMERT,Maggie 3-1-0; FOJE,Amanda 0-1-0; ELMAN,Kate 0-1-0; Totals
48-3-11.0. (Assists) - BAUMERT,Maggie 39. (Dig leaders) - ELMAN,Kate
12; BAUMERT,Maggie 10; BIRD,Jess 8

Site: Omaha, Neb. (D.J. Sokol Arena)
Date: Nov 28, 2015 Attend: 1583 Time: 1:21
Referees: Bill Stanley, Sergio Gonzalez, Kathy Ferraraccio
2015 BIG EAST Championship title match