University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Villanova University
Huskies Fall to Villanova
10/6/2023 6:45:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
PHILADELPHIA – The University of Connecticut women's volleyball team fell to Villanova in three sets Friday night. The Huskies were led by sophomore Emma Werkmeister with 10 kills and eight digs and junior Doga Kutlu with her 10th double double of the season with 23 assists and 10 digs.
UConn (5-12 OVR, 0-5 Conf.) faced a tight match against Villanova and got edged out in all three sets as it searched to end the six-game skid. The Wildcats carried out multiple scoring runs to keep each set within striking distance, and they would find the breakthrough late in each set.
In the first set, UConn and Villanova kept a close back-and-forth battle going through much of the first set. Offensively, the Huskies were stopped and finished with the top kill leaders of Cera Powell and Mya Ayro striking down four kills each. After the first UConn timeout being down 17-13, it would create a burst of scoring plays as it went on a 3-0 scoring run to stay within one. Although the second 3-0 scoring run by the Huskies would keep them close, Wildcats would edge out the Huskies with a 25-23 set score.
The Huskies encountered much of the same scoring trend in the second set. With freshman Mya Ayro leading in kills at 7 with Emma close behind at 5, the Huskies would continue to see its scoring runs end later in the set to be edged out by a small margin. Three Villanova scoring runs would help elevate its breakthrough to clip the Huskies in the set. As the Wildcats saw their lead extend to two at 22-20, the Huskies would battle but couldn't get passed the strong Villanova defense late in the set. Villanova finished the second set 25-22.
UConn, following much of what it saw in the first two sets, continued to make efforts towards pulling ahead of the Wildcats. The Huskies managed to withstand the 4-0 scoring run the Wildcats went on as they still stayed close throughout the set. Kutlu would continue to provide support as she put up the 10th dig to finish out her 10th double double match of the season. However, Villanova used the scoring run up five at 13-8 to fuel its momentum to close out the third set 25-20.
The Huskies get back at it tomorrow, October 7 to close out the second BIG EAST road game of the two-game road trip. UConn goes up against Georgetown at 5 p.m. EST. The game can be streamed live on Flo Sports.
