University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
23-10,13-5Big East
Boston College
17-17,6-12ACC
UConn Advances to NIVC Quarterfinals With Five-Set Comeback at Boston College
12/5/2021 6:43:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Continuing its record-breaking season, the UConn women's volleyball team worked a five-set comeback Sunday afternoon at Power Gym to advance to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship quarterfinals.
UConn (23-10, 13-5 BIG EAST) dropped the opening set to Boston College (17-17, 6-12 ACC), but took the next two before the Eagles forced a winner-take-all fifth set. With its season on the line, the Huskies saved their best for last, hitting .400 as they reached 23 wins for the first time since the 1995 season.
The tandem of Senior Caylee Parker and sophomore Taylor Pannell led the Huskies on the attack once again, as Parker paced all players 19 kills to go with 11 digs for her 12th double-double. Pannell followed with 13 kills, while junior Allie Garland added 10 kills. Graduate student McKayla Wuensch dished out a game-high 49 assists, and junior Karly Berkland notched her eighth 20-dig game.
Down 15-10 to start, Parker went for three of UConn's next four points to get the Huskies within two, 16-14. Junior Jasmine Davis kept the momentum alive with a swing down the middle, two Eagle errors followed, and Pannell and Garland teamed up for a block to give UConn its first lead, 18-17. With the match tied at 20-all, BC went on the attack and utilized a 5-1 run to claim the opening set.
The Huskies answered in the following frame, as Garland, Davis and senior Kennadie Jake-Turner guided a 5-3 advantage. The Eagles swung the momentum to pull ahead 12-10, but Davis took over, slashing two kills and a solo block to put UConn back in front. With the score knotted at 19-all, the Huskies caught fire with a 6-0 run to make it a 1-1 game at the break.
UConn remained steady on the attack as it took a 7-3 grip to begin the third frame. BC worked its home crowd to take a 15-13 lead until the Huskies stormed out of a media timeout with a 4-0 run to push out a two-point edge. UConn continued to create space, cranking out another 4-0 run as it claimed the third set, 25-22, to take the overall advantage.
BC kicked off the fourth set with a 8-4 streak and had all the momentum in the frame as it forced a decisive fifth set.
Determined to keep writing history, senior Anna Petrova sealed a 6-3 run to start the final frame. Pannell went for three straight kills before Parker closed the game with the final two as UConn picked up its first win against an ACC opponent since 2016.
The Huskies will next take on North Florida on Wednesday, Dec. 8. at 7 p.m. at Gampel Pavilion.
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