OMAHA, Neb.- After a bounceback regular season, UConn volleyball fell to Villanova in a five-set marathon in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament.
The first frame was a tug-of-war back and forth, with the Huskies taking an early 6-4 advantage. All-BIG EAST selections Emma Werkmeister and Taylor Pannell each poured in an ace, to keep the pressure on the 'Cats to get UConn up 9-6. Villanova battled back to grab the lead, as Riley Homer had 3 kills to lead the offense, with the combination of Abby Harrell and Ozzie Ozonoh combining for a block to go up 16-13. The Huskies fell behind late in the first set, trailing 20-15 after the 'Cats capitalized on UConn miscues. Anna Herman cut into the Villanova lead, as the Huskies closed the gap to 24-22. On the back of their all-conference pick Harrell, Villanova held on to take the first frame, 25-23.
After the Wildcats took the first two points, UConn took the next four points after a Pannell block and a termination from Loren Winn. Hanna Tylska was front-and-center for the Huskies in the second frame, with a block and two kills to extend the UConn lead to 9-4. Tylska made her presence felt throughout the second, backpacking the Huskies in the frame to stretch the advantage to 15-6, the first player to notch double-digit kills in the match. Nova's Campbell McKinnon went on a four-point run of her own to snip the Husky lead to 15-10. The Wildcats continued to claw back in the second set, with a Cat Young kill forcing UConn to call a timeout, with the lead dwindling to 20-17. Tylska and Doga Kutlu were able to hold off the Villanova second set comeback, as the Huskies tied up the match at 1 set apiece.
UConn got out in front in a critical third set, as Isabella Suhy served up an ace. Defensively, Pannell and Kutlu combined for a loud block to go in front 6-5. Winn and Werkmeister ramped up the offensive intensity, each chipping in kills to build a 13-9 UConn lead. Villanova went all the way back to tie the score. The third set was a slugfest, as McKinnon, Young and the Wildcats traded blows with Werkmiester, Winn, and the Huskies as the score remained locked at 24-all. Tylska sent in her season-high 19th kill of the night as the Huskies pulled out the third 26-24.
Villanova ripped off the first four points of the fourth set to put UConn on its heels. With their backs against the wall, the 'Cats, led by McKinnon stretched the fourth set lead to 12-8. A smattering of errors from both squads kept the Villanova advantage at four, 17-13. The Wildcats looked to pul away in the fourth, going on a 4-0 run. Tylska''s 24th kill of the night, and a Brenna Wyman ace forced a 'Nova timeout as the Huskies trailed 22-19. McKinnon's tenth block of the night pushed the match into a decisive fifth set.
In the winner-take-all-fifth, Villanova grabbed an early 6-3 lead, as McKinnon continued to shine for the Wildcats. UConn tied up the set at 7-7 all after aces from Suhy and Werkmeister. The Huskies grabbed their first lead at 9-8 after a clutch combined block from Kutlu and Anna Herman. More Tylska heroics got the Huskies within two of the match, going ahead 13-12. However, it would not be enough as the Wildcats took the last three points to end the tournament run for UConn in a five-set rollercoaster.
McKinnon led Villanova with 15 kills, 11 blocks, and 7 digs. Tylska had a career-high 29 kills in the defeat for UConn.
Up Next: UConn will wait to see if they are selected for postseason play. Villanova moves on to face Marquette on Friday afternoon in the semifinal round.
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