Volleyball: Team Effort Defeats Villanova
November 06, 2009 09:30 PM | General
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
November 6, 2009
Results
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University volleyball team posted a .202 team hitting percentage, eight service aces and seven team blocks to defeat BIG EAST competitor Villanova this evening at the WVU Coliseum.
The Mountaineers improved to 15-12, 5-7 after defeating Villanova (16-10, 5-6) in a 3-1 (28-26, 25-21, 25-17, 25-11) match.
“We are very pleased. This was a big, big win for us and it keeps us in the running to get to the BIG EAST Championship,” coach Veronica Hammersmith says. “That is what we want – a chance. Beating Villanova was big.”
The Mountaineers started with the lead in set one after back-to-back kills from junior middle blocker Lauren Evans put them up 14-12. The Wildcats fought back with several tough plays including a service ace that sent them on a 5-0 run for their first lead of the set.
Junior middle blocker Abby Norman ended the run after posting a kill to get the Mountaineers going. Sophomore outside hitter Kylie Armbruster capitalized with a service ace, followed by a kill from senior outside hitter Kristina Gallahan to tie the match. Down 25-26, Gallahan recorded another kill for the tie, as Evans posted one of her own to put WVU in position for the win. The set ended on a block from Evans and junior outside hitter Andrea Miller.
Set two started in favor of the Wildcats until several costly errors gave the Mountaineers a 17-16 lead. Up 22-21, WVU went on a 3-0 run for the win after kills from Armbruster, Evans and senior outside hitter Abby Raines.
Junior libero Bonnie West got the Mountaineers going in set three, with three-straight service aces for a 4-1 lead. However, Villanova fought back as the Wildcats went on to win the set after a kill from Krista Andersen.
Set four started the same as set three, with four -straight service aces from Gallahan giving WVU an 8-2 lead. The Mountaineers never looked back as they took the match after a kill from sophomore outside hitter Michelle Kopecky and a Wildcat error.
Evans led the team with 14 kills and a.464 hitting percentage, while Gallahan followed with 14 kills and four service aces.
West also played well with 27 digs in the match. Sophomore setter Kari Post recorded her 12th double-double on the season with 14 digs and 42 assists.
The Mountaineers continue play this weekend when they travel to Youngstown, Ohio, on Sunday, Nov 8, for a 2 p.m. match against Youngstown, for their final road match of the season.
