STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut women's volleyball team won a five-set thriller over Villanova in the season finale game at home Saturday night. The Huskies were led by Emma Werkmeister, Cera Powell, and Taylor Pannell who all pounded down double-digit kills. Sophomore Werkmeister led all scorers with 17 kills.
The Huskies got out on an early lead to start off the first set with support from a huge block teamed up by Talor Pannell and Cera Powell. UConn went on a 5-0 scoring run and then Villanova went on a 3-0 scoring run. Rounding out the set, Werkmeister had five kills and Perry had four. UConn took the set 25-22.
A 4-0 scoring run with four straight kills by Werkmeister took over the momentum for the middle of the set. The Huskies also went on a 5-0 scoring run to take the lead. With a back-and-forth set Villanova found a piece in the offense rallied back in the set. At the end of the set, Werkmeister and Powell tallied a combined 17 kills. Villanova had the edge as Villanova's Abby Harrell nailed down six kills and took the set 31-29. Harrell finished the match with 18 kills.
The Huskies got another early lead with a 5-0 scoring run in the third set. Then, Villanova once again answered with a scoring run of its own, staying within two. Powell and Werk still led the charge with 12 total kills each. As the Wildcats held close, UConn pushed further with an offensive push to make it 25-23 in the third set.
Villanova opened the set on a 3-0 scoring run to make it 4-1. The Wildcats took command of the fourth set to keep a steady lead even after UConn would tie it at 10. Werkmeister and Powell added five kills to their offense, but Villanova rounded out the set 25-18.
A back and forth fifth set kept the Huskies searching for a scoring run, and they got it. They went on a 7-1 scoring run to make it 13-9. Powell from the back line, jumped up to end a long rally with a punishing kill, giving the Huskies the edge late in the deciding set. Then, UConn never looked back as the offense and defense worked interchangeably with Pannell at the forefront; piling on two crucial kills and two block assists from Pannell. Pannell added 14 kills and 8 blocks to her total, meanwhile Powell also finished strong with 16 kills.
The Huskies capped the season at 8-22 overall and 3-15 in conference play.
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