LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Villanova University volleyball team picked up its first win of the year, defeating the Colgate Raiders in a five-set thriller (17-25, 25-23, 23-25, 26-24, 16-14) on Friday afternoon in the season opener.
"First it's good to be playing, and second it's good to start with a win," head coach Josh Steinbach said. "Colgate has a really good team. They're well organized and coached, so we're happy to get a win."
Riley Homer registered 16 kills and 14 digs in the match, while Kiera Booth totaled 13 kills on a .370 hitting percentage.
Junior setter Andrea Campos put up a game-high 27 assists, while Taryn Whittingham contributed a team-high 18 digs.
"Kiera and Riley really carried an offensive load for us today," Steinbach said. "Our setting was good with Belle and Dre, and our defensive players (Elizabeth Feczko, Meredith Moody and Whittingham) did a great job keeping rallies going."
The first set was back-and-forth through the midway point, including 10 ties and six lead changes. But a 13-3 run by the Raiders ended the opening frame, with Colgate moving to a 1-0 advantage in the match.
Villanova jumped out to an early 7-2 lead in the second stanza and did not trail the rest of the set. Despite ties at 22-22 and 23-23, the Wildcats emerged with a 25-23 victory and tied the match at one set apiece.
Set three was even to open the frame, as the sides were tied at 10-10. VU went on a run to lead by as many as four, but Colgate stormed back with a 7-1 run and took the set 25-23.
The teams traded points for the majority of the fourth frame until Colgate established a 21-18 lead. On the verge of defeat, VU rallied back to tie the score at 23-23.
Campos contributed the final two points of the stanza for the Wildcats, following up her first kill of the day with a service ace to send the match to a fifth set.
Villanova hopped out to a 3-0 advantage in set five, but Colgate battled back to tie the contest at 14-14. A kill from sophomore Rose Crist and the first career ace from Skylar Gerhardt sealed it for the 'Cats.
VU out-blocked the Raiders on the day, putting up 14 as a team paced by transfer Izzy Plummer's eight.
NEXT UP: The Wildcats are not done for the day, as a matchup against the UMBC Retrievers awaits at 8 p.m. ET on Friday. VU rounds out the Cardinal & Gold Classic on Saturday evening against USC, with first serve scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET.
