VILLANOVA, Pa. -- The Villanova Wildcats (9-3 overall) will begin their quest for a conference tournament berth this weekend, opening up BIG EAST play with trips to Marquette and DePaul. 

A WINNING RECIPE    
Entering the 2023 season, it looked like Villanova would mostly be a veteran unit utilizing much of the same lineup as last year. While certain positions have been locked down by the 16 holdovers from the 2022 roster, it's been a duo of young players taking up important roles on the court. Freshman Abby Harrell and sophomore Skylar Gerhardt have seldom left the floor this year for VU, playing six rotations as well-rounded players with strong attacking ability. While young bucks have taken up two pieces of the lineup puzzle, that doesn't mean that the 'Cats have totally gone away from the veterans, as seniors are all over the floor. Madeline Barber and Kiera Booth have started each game at middle blocker, Andrea Campos has directed the offense with record-setting numbers, Taryn Whittingham has taken over libero duties and Riley Homer plays an important role in the front row. The only other non-veteran to play significant time has been rookie Marly Smith, a high flyer with an ability to score and block at a high level.

AS THEY GO, SO DO THE 'CATS    
The last two seasons had been reliant on a trio of Wildcats on the offensive side, as Booth, Homer and Rose Crist did VU's heavy lifting. In both 2021 and 2022, those three 'Cats combined for over 61% of Villanova's kills, 866 of 1378 last year and 808 of 1324 in the previous season. But this year, it's been an entirely different set of go-to attackers for the 'Cats, with Harrell and Gerhardt each totaling 200 more swings than the fourth-highest attacker on the team. With Homer's transition into a front row-only option, she's taken 190 swings on the year, while Gerhardt and Harrell are each over 390. Booth takes a bit of pressure off the two young hitters, eclipsing 102 kills for the year, but when in doubt, the set will likely go to #10 or #12.

AMAZING ANDREA    
After splitting starting duties for much of her previous three years on the Main Line, it's been an explosion of production from setter Andrea Campos in her senior campaign. The California product leads the BIG EAST in total assists with 458, good for 19th in the nation in that regard. Campos averages 10.18 assists per set, placing her in the top 50 nationally and third in the conference. While her individual numbers have been strong, Campos is also directing one of the nation's best offenses, creating quality opportunities for the hitters to combine for the BIG EAST's second best percentage.

FAMILY AFFAIR    
Friday's match will be a homecoming for senior middle blocker Madeline Barber, a native of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, who spent a few years pulling for the Golden Eagles. Madeline's sister Allie Barber was a multi-time All-American and BIG EAST Player of the Year at Marquette, so the Wisconsin product will be entering a familiar gym when she arrives at the Al McGuire Center. Barber's hometown of Cedarburg is just a half-hour drive from Milwaukee, so a large contingent of supporters with split allegiances can be expected.

GETTING A LOOK AT THE GOLDEN EAGLES
- Marquette was picked to finish first in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, but own a record of just 4-7 after its non-conference slate. MU has fallen to No. 24 Western Kentucky, No. 25 Purdue, No. 23 Kansas, No. 9 Pittsburgh, No. 18 Tennessee, No. 1 Wisconsin and No. 7 Oregon on the year, but has taken down each of the unranked teams it has faced.
- Senior outside hitter Aubrey Hamilton, a 2022 All-BIG EAST selection, paces the Golden Eagles with 154 kills. Reigning BIG EAST Setter of the Year and unanimous all-conference selection Yadhira Anchante averages 9.12 assists and 2.93 digs per set.
- Marquette also boasts a pair of All-BIG EAST honorees in the middle, with leading blockers Hattie Bray and Carsen Murray putting up 27 and 25 blocks respectively on the young season. Converted outside hitter Sarah Kushner has mainly handled libero duties, rotating with junior Samantha Naber.

DISHING ON DEPAUL
- DePaul maintains an overall record of 7-4 to start the season, rebounding from an 0-3 start with seven wins in the past eight matches. The Blue Demons fell in straight sets to Milwaukee, the only common opponent so far between them and the Wildcats. DPU owns a 4-0 mark in home matchups and will host Georgetown at McGrath-Phillips Arena before squaring off against Villanova on Saturday evening.
- Preseason All-BIG EAST selection Jill Pressley averages 4.11 kills per set to lead the Blue Demons and rank third in the conference, while Audrey Klemp has recorded 123 kills and a .287 hitting percentage to rank top 10 in the BIG EAST. Freshman middle blocker Meghan Scholz leads the conference in blocks with 42 (1.40 per set), and libero Rachel Krasowski ranks second in the BIG EAST at 4.92 digs per set.
- DePaul ranks in the conference's top five in assists and kills (second), digs (fourth) and hitting percentage (fifth) while leading the BIG EAST in blocks at 2.72 per set.

Both matches will air on FloSports. Friday's match is set for 8 p.m. Eastern with live stats on Marquette's Sidearm site, while Saturday features a 7 p.m. Eastern first serve with stats available on StatBroadcast.

Keep up with the Villanova University volleyball program through social media by following on Twitter (@NovaVolleyball) and Instagram (@novavolleyball) and 'liking' on Facebook (/NovaVolleyball).