University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Villanova
UConn Secures 3-0 Sweep vs. Villanova
11/6/2021 8:32:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
STORRS, Conn. – Continuing its streak of sweeps, the UConn women's volleyball team blanked Villanova 3-0 Saturday night at Gampel Pavilion.
With the win, UConn (19-7, 11-3 BIG EAST) secured its first 11-win season in BIG EAST play since the 1998 campaign. Furthermore, the Huskies earned their third straight sweep and matched their longest win streak of the season at five matches.
"We feel there's something special with everything we've accomplished this season," said head coach Ellen Herman-Kimball. "Granted there is still a lot of volleyball left, but we're staying focused on having the mindset of taking one game at a time."
Senior Caylee Parker led the Huskies on the attack once again, ripping a game-high 12 kills on a .423 hitting percentage. Junior Jasmine Davis followed with 11 kills, graduate student McKayla Wuensch notched 33 assists, and junior Karly Berkland was the only player to reach double-digit digs with 14.
Parker started hot with three of UConn's first five points with swings from the outside. Villanova (14-12, 6-8 BIG EAST) stayed within two until Parker spurred a 4-0 streak to widen the gap to 13-7. Senior Kennadie Jake-Turner kept the momentum in full-gear as she lined four kills down the stretch of the set as the Huskies won handily, 25-14.
The ensuing frame saw three ties early on before Wuensch sparked a 5-0 streak, putting the scoreboard in favor of the Huskies at 11-6. Villanova churned an 8-4 run to come within one, but Parker and Wuensch went for back-to-back kills before junior Mia Ruffolo's service ace put UConn in front, 18-14. The Huskies put the set away with a 7-2 streak to head into the break with another sweep in sight.
Villanova took an early 6-4 edge to start the third frame until Davis found a hole in the Wildcat defense, and three service aces from Jake-Turner capped a 7-0 run to flip the scoreboard in favor of the Huskies, 11-6. The Wildcats bounced back to take a one-point lead at 20-19, but a Davis kill followed by four Villanova errors forced match point, and Jake-Turner closed the game with her eighth kill.
"Our mantra this season has been getting better every set, every game, every day in practice," said Herman-Kimball. "We want to be confident while staying humble at the same time. We realize we're going to get everybody's best game, and we have to play our best."
The Huskies will hit the road for the final time of the regular season next weekend as they visit St. John's and Seton Hall.
