MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- The Villanova volleyball team (17-13 overall, 8-10 BIG EAST) makes its return to the BIG EAST Tournament this week for the first time since 2019, taking on the #3 St. John's Red Storm in a first round contest at 4 p.m. ET / 3 CT on Wednesday.

ASSESSING THE FIELD    

The Wildcats march into Milwaukee as the Championship's lowest seed, set to square off against #3 St. John's with a potential semifinal date on Friday against host Marquette. The 'Cats have met up with SJU in the tournament twice, owning a 2-0 mark with first round sweeps in 1995 and 1996. VU has faced the Golden Eagles just once in the postseason, a semifinal loss in 2019. The possible final opponents for the BIG EAST crown include Xavier (1-0, semifinal sweep in 2015), DePaul (never met in Tournament) and Creighton (0-3, final loss in 2015 and semifinal losses in 2017 & 2018).

RECORD AGAINST TOURNEY PARTICIPANTS    

As to be expected, five of the most often-seen squads in Wildcat history make their way to the Cream City this weekend. Villanova owns the all-time edge against two of the tournament opponents, including first round foe St. John's (24-17) and potential championship opposition DePaul (19-8). The Xavier matchup is fairly even at 9-12 with the teams having split the 2023 season series, but VU has struggled historically versus Creighton (3-20) and Marquette (4-24).

ANDREA THE ASSISTER    

Starting setter Andrea Campos has been the engine of the Villanova offense this year, distributing the ball to the tune of four 200-plus kill players. The senior from California ranks second in the conference and 26th nationally for total assists with 1,137 on the year, averaging 9.89 helpers per set for the third best mark in the conference. A shorter and more athletic setter, Campos has also been one of the team's top defenders this season, totaling 237 digs and 28 blocks on the year in addition to a 1.32 ace-to-error ratio at the service line. 

GEAR UP FOR GERHARDT    

One of the most positive developments for the Wildcats in 2023 has been the play of sophomore outside hitter Skylar Gerhardt, a six-rotation player who has been a critical element of the BIG EAST Tournament participants. After playing in just 14 matches during her debut campaign, the Manhattan Beach native has totaled 289 kills on the year in addition to a team-high 41 service aces, 231 digs and 24 total blocks. The six-foot hitter has provided the 'Cats with a high-powered arm at either pin and out of the back row, averaging 2.99 points per set while starting in every single match on the year for Villanova.

TWO WILDCATS NAMED TO ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM    

• For the third time in program history and the first time in the Josh Steinbach era, the BIG EAST Freshman of the Year is a Villanova Wildcat as Abby Harrell was named the conference's top rookie of the 2023 season. The outside hitter was also named an All-BIG EAST and All-Freshman Team selection, joined on the all-conference squad by senior middle blocker Kiera Booth. It's the first time since 2020 that the 'Cats have placed two players on the all-conference list. 
• Harrell picked up the conference's top freshman and all-conference honors after totaling the sixth-best mark of 3.29 kills and 3.28 points against league competition to lead all BIG EAST first years. The Washington native's 382 total kills and 440.5 points both ranked seventh among all qualifiers, and her 38 aces placed 10th in the league. The five-time BIG EAST Freshman of the Week is the lone first year on the all-conference squad and becomes the first Wildcat to win FOY since Stacey Moline in 1996. As a six-rotation player in her debut season, Harrell added 249 digs (third on the team) and 39 blocks (fourth).
• Booth earned her second All-BIG EAST nod in as many years, the sixth to accomplish that feat in Villanova history and the 11th Wildcat to pick up multiple all-conference honors in a career. The all-time VU leader for career hitting percentage, Booth hit .362 against BIG EAST opponents this year to rank fourth in the league and put forth 2.86 kills per set to lead all middle blockers. With 200 kills in conference play, the senior had 36 more terminations than the next BIG EAST player at her position while also totaling 47 blocks. Despite only 664 swings on the year, Booth had 302 kills to place second for the 'Cats.

READING INTO THE RED STORM

• St. John's enters the tournament as the third seed, finishing the regular season at 13-5 in conference with five BIG EAST Championship bids in the last six years. 
• The Johnnies had a pair of players selected to the All-BIG EAST team in setter/right side Erin Jones (unanimous selection) and outside hitter Lucrezia Lodi, as well as a unanimous freshman team choice in libero Rashanny Solano Smith. 
• SJU has the BIG EAST's 13th and 14th best players in terms of kills per set in Giorgia Walther and Lodi. Setter Wiktoria Kowalczyk is eighth in the conference for assists (8.26 per set) and fifth in service aces, while Lodi places second for blocks per set (1.13) and Solano Smith is fifth in digs per frame.
• The Red Storm lead the league in blocks, rank second for kills and assists and sit third for opponent hitting percentage. The lowest BIG EAST mark for the Johnnies is digs, where they average just 13.21 per set for the second worst in the conference.

Streaming for the bout will be available on FloSports, with stats provided on Marquette's Sidearm site.