University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
24-11,13-5Big East
Valparaiso
26-9,12-6MVC
Volleyball Fades to Valpo in NIVC Final Four
12/10/2021 9:53:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
VALPARAISO, Ind. – Contending against Valpo in a NIVC Final Four matchup, the UConn women's volleyball team saw its historic season come to an end as it fell in three sets to the Beacons Friday night at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Senior Caylee Parker was a force from the outside once again, leading all players with 19 kills on a .400 hitting percentage, and added in 10 digs for her 13th double-double of the year. Junior Karly Berkland posted a team-high 17 digs and graduate student McKayla Wuensch handed out in 36 assists.
All three sets went beyond 25 points, though Valpo (26-9, 12-6 Missouri Valley) pulled away from UConn (24-11, 13-5 BIG EAST) to advance to the championship game, where the Beacons will host UNLV on Sunday.
Five different Huskies went on the attack as UConn doubled up Valpo, 8-4, in the early going. Sophomore Taylor Pannell assisted on back-to-back blocks before junior Jasmine Davis gave the Huskies their largest lead of the frame, 13-8. The Beacons charged their home crowd as they reeled off an 8-1 run to cut the gap to two, but Parker swung the momentum, ripping three kills as part of a 5-2 run to put the scoreboard back in favor of the Huskies, 19-18. Valpo answered by taking the ensuing four points pull ahead and eventually forced set point at 24-23, where Parker and the Huskies fended off three advantages before Valpo took the set, 28-26.
Riding the energy of an electric atmosphere, Valpo took advantage of a trio of aces to take a 10-4 grip in the second frame. The Huskies called a timeout and regrouped, and sophomore Taylor Pannell started a 10-1 streak coming out of the pause to flip the score, 14-11. However, the Beacons rallied and reclaimed the upper hand, 24-21. The tandem of Parker and senior Kennadie Jake-Turner went for back-to-back blocks before an attacking error knotted it once again at 24-all. Parker stayed hot with her 14th kill of the match to fight off set point for the fourth time, but the Beacons took another marathon, 27-25, to put the Huskies in a 2-0 hole at the break.
With their backs against the wall, Parker, Pannell and Jake-Turned guided a 5-2 advantage to start the third stanza. UConn and Valpo battled in a highly-competitive third set, where 11 ties paved the way for a 20-20 ball game late in the frame. The Beacons went on a 3-1 spurt to force match point, but a service error followed by a block from Parker and Jake-Turner kept the season alive, and Parker knotted the score at 12-all to extend the set. However, the comeback attempt would fall short as Valpo went for two straight kills to book its spot in the championship game.
