University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
16-7,8-3Big East
Xavier
10-13,5-7Big East
UConn Takes 3-2 Thriller at Xavier
10/30/2021 6:29:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
CINCINNATI, Ohio – Going five sets on the road, the UConn women's volleyball team pulled out a gritty 3-2 victory over Xavier Saturday afternoon at Cintas Arena.
Senior Caylee Parker stayed red-hot on the attack, leading UConn (16-7, 8-3 BIG EAST) with 19 kills and added in 15 digs for her eighth double-double. Junior Jasmine Davis was also a force from the outside, matching Parker with 19 kills, while senior Kennadie Jake-Turner add in 10 kills.
On the defensive end, junior Karly Berkland notched a team-high 22 digs, while graduate student McKayla Wuensch matched a season high with 44 assists.
Xavier (10-13, 5-7 BIG EAST) and the Huskies swapped points to start until a swing by sophomore Taylor Pannell gave UConn an 11-10 edge. However, the Musketeers utilized a 10-2 run as they took the opening set handily, 25-18.
The Huskies stormed out of the gates in the ensuing set as a Davis kill capped a 9-3 streak. The Musketeers came within one point midway through the set until Parker ripped three consecutive kills to shift the momentum as UConn went on a 5-0 streak to gain breathing room, 19-13. Davis caught the hot hand at the end of the set with back-to-back swings as the Huskies took the set, 25-16, to even the match.
Junior Allie Garland kept the momentum rolling as a forceful hit from the right side gave UConn a 7-2 advantage to commence the third stanza. Xavier kept it close as a 5-2 run trimmed the Huskies' grip to 13-11. Looking to pick the pace back up, Jake-Turner swung back-to-back kills before Davis added a pair of her own to keep the Huskies ahead, 19-16, as they went on win the set 25-21 to take their first overall lead.
Pannell kicked off a 9-4 streak as the fourth set got underway, but the Musketeers answered with a 10-5 streak to swing the scoreboard in their favor, and fended off the Huskies to secure the fourth set, 25-21, to send the match into a decisive fifth set.
Davis slashed five of UConn's eight kills in the fifth set, while the defense limited the Musketeers to a -.087 hitting percentage to take the debut matchup of the series.
The Huskies will return to the court tomorrow at Butler for a 2 p.m. start.
