VILLANOVA, Pa. – A trio of 2024 conference champions descend upon the Jake Nevin Field House this weekend as Villanova volleyball (2-0) prepares to host the 2025 Villanova Classic against Fairfield, High Point and Yale from September 5-7.

Villanova will play one match on each day this weekend, beginning with a contest against Yale at 7 p.m. on Friday before a 4 p.m. Saturday bout with Fairfield and the weekend finale at 2 p.m. Sunday opposite High Point.

CATHOLIC CHALLENGE CHAMPIONS    
It was a successful opening weekend for the 'Cats who emerged from South Bend as victors of this year's Catholic Challenge between VU, Notre Dame and Santa Clara. Villanova picked up a straight set sweep of the Broncos in the season opener to move to 14-5 in Josh Steinbach's 19 years of lidlifters. A tougher test awaited the Wildcats on Sunday in the ACC's Fighting Irish who Villanova outlasted in five sets thanks to a balanced attack featuring three players above 16 kills on the afternoon. Abby Harrell was named the Tournament MVP and to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll while Campbell McKinnon and Cat Young each earned All-Tournament accolades. There was also supposed to be a midweek edition of the Wildcats on the road, but the match was canceled and not to be rescheduled due to issues at Binghamton. 

STEADY SOPHOMORES    
While the Villanova freshmen class last year was impressive in their debut campaign, the group might have been even better over the weekend in South Bend to open up sophomore year. The starting lineup featured five members of the six-person class and a pair of them earned an All-Tournament nod in McKinnon and Young. Alyssa Nelson led the team in assists, Taylor Lewis contributed 17 kills and Lola Buck-Taylor added 13 digs while McKinnon hit .453 and Young made contributions across the board with strong numbers in the kill, ace and dig columns. If the Wildcats have success in the 2025 season, you can bet the sophomore class will have been the engine.

BREAKING DOWN THE BULLDOGS

• Yale's season kicks off this weekend at the Villanova Classic to follow up a 2024 campaign where they went 19-6 and won the Ivy League for the third straight year.
• The Bulldogs were picked to finish first again in their conference preseason poll, returning All-Ivy First Team right side Betsy Goodenow in addition to three other all-league selections in middles Laurece Abraham and Gigi Barr plus libero Arya Jue.
• Longtime head coach Erin Appleman's squad is 5-3 all-time against the Wildcats, picking up five set victories over VU in both 2022 and 2024.

SIZING UP THE STAGS

• Fairfield rolls into Jake Nevin at 2-1 overall after winning the first two matches of the season over Old Dominion and Towson but falling in five sets to West Virginia. 
• The Stags are led by senior hitter Allie Elliott who earned MAAC Player of the Week following three double-doubles at ODU last week. Fellow returners Mamie Krubally and Maya Walker were each All-MAAC First Teamers last year.
• Villanova is 3-3 all-time against and has faced Fairfield twice in the last three seasons, taking down the Stags in four sets last year in Connecticut but falling in five at Jake Nevin Field House in 2022.

HEAR ABOUT HIGH POINT

• The Panthers started out their 2025 season with a visit to Provo, Utah, last weekend, dropping matches to Central Michigan and BYU but defeating FDU in four.
• High Point is the preseason league favorite after winning the Big South and going 23-7 overall in 2024, led again this year by all-conference setter Allie Gray and veteran defenders Kea Whillock and Brooke Briscoe.
• The 'Cats maintain a winning 2-1 record over HPU, winning a 2019 five-set matchup in Fort Worth but falling at Jake Nevin Field House the previous year in straight sets.

Streaming for all five matches will be available on the Villanova Athletics YouTube page and statistics for each can be found on StatBroadcast.