University of Connecticut Athletics
Volleyball Sweeps Villanova for 3-0 Win
11/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
STORRS, Conn. (November 11, 2006) - The University of Connecticut volleyball team took one step closer to qualifying for the BIG EAST tournament by defeating Villanova 3-0 (30-28, 32-30, 30-27) on Saturday, November 11, in Storrs, Conn.
With the win, the Huskies improve to 18-10, 7-6 in the BIG EAST. They find themselves in a three-way tie for seventh place with Villanova and USF who also hold conference records of 7-6 with all teams still having a match to be played on Sunday.
Freshman Bridget Denson-Dorman (Maple Grove, Minn.) got game one off to a great start with a service ace while sophomores Sarah Singer (Waukesha, Wisc.) and Lorelle Schaub (New Brighton, Minn.) added to the lead with a block at 2-0. The Wildcats fought back to tie the score at 7-7 but senior Megan Silver (Snohomish, Wash.) came up big with a kill followed by a block that was also assisted by Denson-Dorman to go up 9-7. The Huskies scored five consecutive points with Schaub adding another block with junior Sade Chambers (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) and then Chambers capping off the run with a kill at 16-10. Villanova wouldn't go away and used two straight blocks to even the score at 21-21. Battling back and forth the rest of the way, UConn came out on top after a kill by Silver put game one away 30-28.
Game two proved to be the closest of the match as game two alone saw 16 different tie scores and nine lead changes. The Wildcats got out first to a 2-0 lead before two consecutive kills from Silver and then Singer tied the game at 6-6. Down 14-15, UConn used a three-point swing to go up 17-15 after freshman Kate Seabaugh (St. Louis, Mo.) added a kill with Silver and Denson-Dorman working together for two straight blocks. Villanova stayed in the game with kills from Alona Cherkez and took a 24-21 advantage. The Huskies kept their composure and fought their way out of four game points after kills from freshman Devon Farrell (Lafayette, Calif.), Silver and Singer. Down 29-30 and facing game point again, Singer came up with a kill when the team needed it and then followed it up with another kill to put the Huskies up 31-30 and in position for their own game point. UConn was too much for the Wildcats and took game two 32-30.
The Huskies started game three off by capitalizing on steady serving from Denson-Dorman with Chambers adding block as well as a kill to gain an early 4-0 edge. Villanova came back and with a block from Adrian Semrau and Dana Tartazky, the Wildcats tied up the game at 8-8. Chambers had three kills in the span of six points to aid the Huskies in taking an 18-16 lead. Back-to-back kills by Singer pushed the lead to 21-20 with Villanova taking a timeout. Silver was led the team down the final stretch as she had four kills in six plays to set up game point at 29-27. Singer and Schaub teamed up for a block to seal game three and the match for the Huskies 30-27.
Chambers, Singer and Silver each had 12 kills on the day, with Silver having five blocks and Chambers and Singer each having two apiece. Denson-Dorman came up with a match-high 42 assists. Defensively, Schaub was huge with six blocks while freshman Jessica Isaac (Erlanger, Ky.) grabbed 18 digs.
As a team the Huskies at 11 total team blocks.
UConn closes out the regular season on Sunday, Nov. 12 against Rutgers. Match time is set for 2 p.m. and will be preceded by a Senior Salute.
