Box Score

SEATTLE, Wash. ââ'¬" The Villanova volleyball team dropped its last match of the Seattle Invite to co-host Seattle University 3-1 (25-21, 25-23, 16-25, 25-21) on Sunday. The Wildcats (3-3) trailed 2-0 before dominating the third set and led late in set-four, but a late run by the Redhawks (4-2) prevented the match going to a fifth set.

Junior outside hitter Allie Loitz (Bonita, Calif./Bonita Vista) had her third double-double of the season with 11 kills and 10 digs. On defense, freshman Regan Lough and Allison Fitzgerald each reached double-figures in digs with 12 and 11 apiece.

Matea Mamic led the Redhawks on offense with 16 kills, including six in the match-deciding fourth set. Katarina Marinkovick added 13 kills for Seattle.

The Redhawks started the match on a 9-3 run, and would extend their lead to as much as 10 at 19-9 in the first set. After a Villanova timeout, three consecutive kills from Darcy Wolf (Allentown, Pa./Central Catholic), Loitz and Michaela Berendt (Olympia, Wash./Olympia) sparked a 11-3 Wildcat run to cut the deficit to 22-20. Seattle University regrouped after a timeout, and would win the set by taking the next three out of four points set one, 25-21.

Villanova and Seattle started the second set even, but Villanova would take a 14-11 advantage. The Wildcats would take an extended lead on a 7-2 run featuring kills by Michaela Berendt, a kill from Emma Decker, and a service ace by Wolf to take a 19-14 lead. After the Redhawks regrouped after a timeout, Seattle responded on a 6-1 run to cut the lead to 20-19. Seattle's momentum continued throughout the set, as Seattle took over the lead at 22-21. Villanova would tie the match at 23 in hopes of preventing the comeback, but Seattle would earn points on a kill and a Villanova attack error as the Redhawks took the second set, 25-23.

After the second set, the Wildcats started set three winning seven of the first 10-points in the set for a 7-3 early advantage. Seattle would cut the lead down to two at 9-7 but a Villanova 5-2 run extended the Wildcat lead to 14-10. An 11-6 run ended set three with Villanova taking the set 25-16. The Wildcats compelted the set win on a 7-0 run to cut the Redhawk lead to 2-1. Villanova executed a balanced attack in set three featuring five Wildcats with two or more kills and hit a .440 attack percentage to overpower Seattle.

The fourth set was dead even through 20 points with Villanova and Seattle tied at 10. An 8-3 run by the Wildcats opened the set with a five point lead at 18-13. Amanda Pedersen-Henry (Murrieta, Calif./Visitation Academy) and Loitz each had kills during the run. Seattle responded after a timeout with a 12-3 run to halt the Villanova momentum as Seattle took the set 25-21 and the match 3-1.

The Wildcats will have the week off before heading north to Fairfield, Conn. on Friday, September 4 to take on James Madison and Sacred Heart. Villanova will wrap up the tournament against Fairfield at 3 p.m. on Saturday.