NEW ORLEANS – The Villanova women's volleyball team fell to the Arkansas Little Rock Trojans 3-1 today in their final match at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Volleyball Classic.
Head coach Josh Steinbach on the weekend, "obviously a frustrating weekend for us. But I think the group has better volleyball coming and I know we will be ready to play as the BIG EAST starts on Wednesday."
Junior libero Regan Lough had a season high 42 digs beating her previous high of 34 at Delaware.
Current BIG EAST Freshman of the Week, Clare Delaplane had her first collegiate double-double with 11 kills and a season high 17 digs.
Junior setter Emma Decker had 21 assists and three service aces. Junior middle blocker and New Orleans native Allie Olsonoski had a season high eight blocks and three service aces.
It was back and forth throughout the opening set. There were 10 ties and five lead changes. With the set tied at 20, Little Rock would win four of the next five points to make it 24-21. The Wildcats would get the following two points from a kill and block by Olsonoski but wouldn't be enough to catch the Trojans as they won the set 25-23.
Villanova jumped out to an 8-0 lead to start the second set, but Little Rock slowly chipped away at the Wildcats' lead. The Trojans tied the set up at 17 and then the two teams traded points back and forth. Villanova led 22-20 but Trojans rallied back to tie it at 22. Villanova would win the next three points to win the set 25-22.
The Wildcats trailed 8-10 in the third set. The Trojans would extend their lead to 15-10 but the Wildcats fought back to tie the match at 15. Little Rock then had a series of little runs to increase the lead over the Wildcats. The Trojans won the set 25-19.
The Trojans won the first five points to start the fourth set. Villanova was not able to catch up to Little Rock during the set. The Trojans won the set 25-16.
Villanova return home to Jake Nevin Field House on Wednesday September 19th at 7:00 p.m. against Seton Hall to start BIG EAST play. In the BIG EAST preseason poll, the Wildcats were predicted to finish fourth.
