CINCINNATI, OH- Winners of their last six matches, UConn volleyball looked to keep the good times rolling into a three match road-trip, starting at the Cintas Center against the Xavier Musketeers on Friday night.

Volleyball was a game of runs early in the first set, with Xavier's 3-0 quickly being answered by a 3 point run from the Huskies to keep the score tied early. Anna Herman made her presence felt in the first as the freshman chipped in three kills to lead UConn. A balanced attack from the visiting Huskies answered each Xavier run, with Taylor Pannell, Grace Maria, and Hanna Tylska all pouring in terminations to build the UConn lead to 12-10. The Huskies extended the lead to 15-12, but the Musketeers responded with kills from Margo Kemp and Anna Taylor, going on a 4-0 run to reclaim the advantage at 16-15. Following a UConn timeout, the Huskies responded with a run of their own, with two consecutive Maria aces leading the charge to get the Huskies ahead 23-21. Herman and Maria continued to play aggressively for UConn to lift the visitors to a first set win, 25-23.

Defense was the story in the opening moments of the second set, as Herman, Tylska, and Loren Winn contributing monster blocks to get UConn going early. Xavier was quick to respond and build an 11-7 lead, as Elouise Czajowksi's two aces, and kills from Anna Taylor and Quinci Thomas forced the Huskies to talk things over. The Musketeers ran their advantage all the way up to 13-7, but an ace and kill from Pannell got the Huskies within three at 14-11. However, Kemp and Logan Flaugh put the second set out of reach for Xavier as they evened up the match at 1-all, securing the frame 25-15.

Errors plagued both squads in the pivotal third set, deadlocking the frame at 6 all. The Musketeers carried over their strong play into the third, going on a 5-0 run following multiple UConn attacking errors and Taylor's match-leading 10^th kill to go up 11-6. The Huskies battled back, with Pannell closing the gap to one with two kills and her second ace to get the score to 14-13. Xavier stretched the lead to 21-17 from kills from Taylor and Thomas to put UConn on their heels.

With their backs against the wall, the Huskies came out with a scintillating start in the fourth, with Tylska, Doga Kutlu and Loren Winn leading the charge to get the visitors up 7-2. After the Musketeers rattled off three points in a row, UConn responded with two more Tylska kills and a Brenna Wyman ace to get the lead to 11-6. A smattering of Musketeer errors, and blocks from Winn and Herman pushed UConn ahead further 17-10, with hopes to get the match to a decisive fifth set. Xavier cut the lead to 23-19, but Grace Maria helped the Huskies hold on, pushing the match to five sets.

UConn jumped in front 5-2 in the fifth after kills from Tylska and Pannell. Xavier would not go down without a fight, stringing together four points in a row to leap back in front at 6-5. In a heavyweight fight, the Huskies and Musketeers went blow for blow, trading points to pull level at 9. Xavier pulled ahead in the fifth set and would not look back, as the comeback would come up short for UConn, as their six match winning streak came to an end on Friday.

Anna Taylor led the Musketeers with 17 kills in the win, one of three Xavier players to reach double-digits, along with Emma Grace and Margo Kemp. 

Up Next: UConn will look to bounce back against DePaul on Sunday afternoon in Chicago. Xavier welcomes Providence on Sunday to continue their homestand.