Credit: GR Productions
Villanova Outlasts The Hall in Epic Big East Clash, 3-1
Published: Sunday, September 29, 2024
by Darren Worrell
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J - As another rainy day set the scene outside yesterday in South Orange, New Jersey, the atmosphere inside historic Walsh Gymnasium was electric with anticipation; Seton Hall was about to face off against the Villanova Wildcats in an intense Big East volleyball matchup. The Pirates were eager to shake off the disappointment of their recent defeat at the hands of the St. John's Red Storm, where they fought hard but fell short. Returning home, they looked to capitalize on their home court and secure their first Big East win of the season. On the other hand, Villanova arrived with confidence after a commanding 3-0 victory against Georgetown, having made the hour and 44-minute drive from Pennsylvania with a spring in their step. Both teams were eager to establish themselves with early wins in conference play. But sadly, the Pirates could not get it done at home, falling to the Wildcats 3 sets to 1.
The first set began with both teams exchanging kills, but Seton Hall made early mistakes, specifically service errors. Villanova gained momentum with consistent attacks from Cat Young and Abby Harrell, while The Hall struggled with errors and could not maintain a lead. Despite some efforts from the Pirates to close the gap with kills and an ace from Subasili, Villanova held their ground. The set ended with a final score of 25-21 in favor of Villanova, after a series of late errors from Seton Hall which sealed their fate.
In the second set, Villanova initially surged ahead with kills from Tara Garvey and Abby Harrell, establishing a 2-0 lead. However, Seton Hall quickly responded with a kill from Maddy Loiselle to narrow the gap. The teams exchanged points, highlighted by Seton Hall’s Asli Subasili delivering a service ace, as well as kills from Reagan Merk. Mid-set, after a series of substitutions, Seton Hall extended its lead to 12-8, aided by a service ace from Merk. Both teams exchanged leads, with the score reaching 15-15 before Seton Hall began to pull away again. Villanova struggled with errors of their own, including critical service mistakes, while Seton Hall capitalized on these opportunities. Seton Hall secured the set with a combination of effective kills and a service ace from Senna Roberts-Navarro, winning 25-20. The Hall was now tied with Nova at 1 set apiece.
The third set opened with sequences from key players Perri Lucas and Maddie Klungel for Seton Hall, as well as Campbell McKinnon and Alyssa Nelson for Villanova. Both teams made frequent substitutions to strategize throughout the match. Villanova gained momentum with several kills, leading 22-17 at one point, but Seton Hall fought back, closing the gap with strategic plays. The match featured critical attack errors and service errors from both sides, contributing to the back-and-forth scoring. Villanova eventually edged ahead and did not look back, winning the set 25-21.
The fourth and final set was must-see action, with the score fluctuating frequently as Villanova and Seton Hall exchanged kills and errors. The game began with Lucas scoring for the Hall, followed by kills from Roberts-Navarro, and Young for the Wildcats, bringing the score to 2-1. Both teams responded with strong offensive plays, including significant contributions from Nova's Harrell and the Hall’s Loiselle. Service and attack errors added to the drama, as the teams battled for dominance. The set featured 16 ties, notably at 10-10 and 13-13, displaying the true intensity of the match. As the game progressed, players like Merk and Garvey made impactful plays for their respective squads, leading to a back-and-forth exchange that ended in a nail-biting finish, showing just how tough the Big East Conference is. After an unsuccessful challenge, the Villanova Wildcats clinched the set 27 to 25, and won the match 3 sets to 1.
The Hall had several star players in this match, despite the loss. This name should not come as a surprise to anyone; Maddie Klungel continuously puts the ball in all the right places for her teammates, racking up 42 assists in this matchup. Reagan Merk, Perri Lucas, and Maddy Loiselle each had double-digit kills, with 16, 15, and 12, respectively. Although they fall short, a lot of Big East action is left, and best believe the Pirates will be back stronger next game. With this loss, the Pirates fall to 0-2 in Big East action and 6-7 overall, and Villanova improves to 2-0 in conference and 9-4 overall. The Seton Hall Pirates will continue their play when they travel to Alumni Hall in Providence, Rhode Island to take on the Friars on October 4th.
Darren Worrell can be reached at darren.worrell@student.shu.eduPosted in: sports,