University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
21-10,13-5Big East
Marquette (Big East Semifinals)
26-4,16-2Big East
UConn Falls at Marquette in BIG EAST Semifinals
11/26/2021 3:09:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Making its return to the BIG EAST Championship, the UConn women's volleyball team saw its season end as it fell in three sets in the semifinal round to Marquette Friday afternoon at the Al McGuire Center.
No. 3 seed UConn (21-10, 13-5 BIG EAST) hung tight with No. 2 seed and host Marquette (26-4, 16-2 BIG EAST) through the first two sets, but the Golden Eagles had their way to advance to the championship match.
The Huskies struggled on the attack with a .034 hitting percentage compared to a .248 from Marquette.
Senior Caylee Parker notched her 11th double-double, tallying a game-high 13 kills to go with 10 digs. Junior Jasmine Davis provided six kills and nine digs, while graduate student McKayla Wuensch handed out 23 assists.
Riding the early energy, Parker got the offense going by striking with three early swings to make it 5-4 Huskies. Junior Allie Garland got in on the attack before Parker went for a solo block to make it 8-8, but Marquette went on a 5-0 run to swing the momentum. UConn stayed in it, as a solo block from Jake-Turner cut the deficit to 15-12, but the Golden Eagles closed out the set with a 12-2 run.
The second frame returned to the back-and-forth pace while the duo of Parker and Davis continued to stay hot from the outside as the score held at 6-6 once again. Jake-Turner added in another ace before sophomore Taylor Pannell put UConn with one, 12-11. The Golden Eagles ripped off a 7-1 streak until Parker got the attack back on track, and Jake-Turner recorded back-to-back blocks with Parker and Wuensch to trim the deficit to 19-15. However, Marquette rode the momentum of its home crowd as a 5-1 run paced the host to a 25-18 victory in the second set.
With its season on the line, Marquette kept the pressure on the Huskies and kicked off the third set with a 13-2 run. The Huskies could never recover as they fell to 11-41 all-time in BIG EAST Championship matches, while the Golden Eagles advanced to their fifth straight championship appearance.
