Syracuse University
Villanova
Volleyball Defeats Villanova, 3-1
9/28/2003 3:13:44 PM | Volleyball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The SU volleyball team improved to 2-0 in the BIG EAST for the first time since the 1996 season with a 3-1 win against Villanova on Sunday, Sept. 28. The Orangewomen (11-6) defeated the Wildcats (3-11, 0-2 BIG EAST), 27-30, 30-27, 30-21, 30-20.
"It was a good confidence builder," SU assistant coach Alexis Dankulic said. "With only four teams going to the BIG EAST Tournament, if you lose two games or split on a weekend, you can lose motivation. Now, there's not as much weight on our shoulders for next weekend."
After splitting the first two games, Syracuse returned from the break looking like a different team. The Orangewomen recorded a .366 hitting percentage in game three, and a .400 hitting percentage in game four.
In game one, Kerri Sullivan recorded seven kills for the Wildcats. She served Villanova to a 9-3 lead. Villanova led by as many as nine, 18-9. SU pulled to within one point twice, 24-23 and 27-26, but could not overcome the deficit.
Syracuse's front-row defense put Villanova away in the second game, as Katie Allen and Kristen Conway led SU to a 28-27 edge, and Morgan Jones made a solo stop to win the game. Two of senior Michaela Skelly's three aces came in the game, including one that put SU up 24-22. Sophomore Aila Dommestrup finished with seven assists and six digs in the game.
Dommestrup was the key to SU's third-game win. She recorded three kills on five attempts with no errors, as well as nine assists and five digs. She also served five straight points late in the match, giving SU a 25-16 advantage.
In the fourth and final match, Villanova's offense could not get anything going. The Wildcats' errors equalled their kills to produce a .000 hitting percentage. Meanwhile, SU was hitting its stride. As a team, the Orangewomen had 17 kills and three errors on 35 attempts for a .400 hitting percentage. Freshman Erin McQuillin posted all of her career-high three solo blocks in the decisive game and added a block assist. Two of her blocks came on consecutive rallies and gave Syracuse a 22-16 edge.
Conway and Dommestrup both recorded double-doubles. Dommestrup had 30 assists and a career-high 15 digs, while Conway posted 12 kills and 11 digs. Conway also had five block assists, and Dommestrup finished with a team-best .385 hitting percentage on five kills and 13 attempts with no errors. Allen finished with eight kills on 16 attempts and five total blocks. Sophomore Kelly Duan recorded 11 kills and six digs, and Jones had 10 kills and three blocks. McQuillin dominated at the net, racking up 10 total blocks, which tied her career high. Senior Christen Casey notched 11 digs, and Skelly had 10 digs.
For the Wildcats, Jenny Badran-Grycan recorded a double-double with 19 assists and 13 digs. Jennifer Edwards also had a double-double with 28 assists and 10 digs. Katie Lanting had 14 kills on 33 attempts, and Sullivan recorded 18 kills on a match-high 53 attempts. Kelly Ludwig recorded eight kills on 14 attempts for a team-best .429 hitting percentage. Dana Kabashima finished with 18 digs.
SU finishes its homestand with a non-conference match against Niagara on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 7:00 p.m., in Manley Field House.
