VILLANOVA, Pa.-Fueled by a crucial comeback in the fourth set, Villanova's Volleyball team went the distance and took down St. John's in five sets. The Wildcats improve to 14-10 (6-6 BIG EAST) while St. John's drops to 14-12 (5-7 BIG EAST).
"I think our general fight was awesome and didn't think our players were ever phased by the score throughout the entire match," Saturday's acting Villanova head coach
Jackie Scott said. "We just kept focusing on our side and what we needed to do."
During the first set, the lead changed hands just twice with eight ties. Each team traded blows and the climax of the set occurred late when both teams were tied at 21. The Wildcats went on to score two points and grab a 23-21 lead. The Red Storm were able to counter with a kill from Rachele Rastelli to cut the deficit to 23-22. After a pair of kills from
Riley Homer and
Rose Crist, the Wildcats earned a 25-22 first set win.
The Red Storm were able to separate themselves with late run in the second set. Leading 15-14, St. John's scored three consecutive points for an 18-14 lead. Later on in the set,
Madeline Barber delivered back-to-back kills to trim St. John's lead to 20-18. Villanova was unable to grab the lead late and St. John's escaped with a 25-21 second set win.
Villanova played from behind the entire third set and were unable to grab a lead. The Wildcats had a chance late in the set when a kill from
Rose Crist pulled Villanova within one, trailing 23-22. After a pair of Villanova errors, the Red Storm were able to stave off the Wildcats for a 25-22 third set win.
The fourth set had Villanova fans on the edge of their seats. At one point, the Wildcats were trailing 17-9 after a 4-0 St. John's run. The Wildcats stayed within striking distance but were down 24-19 and one more point from St. John's would end Villanova's night. The Wildcats went on a surreal 7-0 run to win the fourth set, 26-19, and force a fifth set.
"As a staff, we emphasize team communication and how much we talk to each other," Scott said. "It was great to see that come to fruition and see them talk to each other and encourage each other in a way that made them feel like anything was possible and to keep that competitive energy through a meek looking set and win it was awesome."
The momentum was all Villanova in the fifth set. With a 9-6 lead, Villanova went on a 5-0 run powered by a trio of
Riley Homer kills to set the score at 14-6. A kill from
Kathleen Johnson cemented the 15-8 fifth set win and the match.
Inside the Box Score
Scott's Thoughts
On
Belle Morgan's career-high night
"I thought Belle set an awesome game. She was put in some tough spots and I thought she did a really good job at staying steady and finding our hitters and running the offense really well."
The Wildcats will begin their road trip with a match at Georgetown, Wednesday November 3 at 5:00 PM.
