University of Connecticut Athletics
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Georgetown
Volleyball Battles Georgetown and Villanova This Weekend
10/16/2025 10:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Georgetown Links: Roster Schedule
Villanova Links: Roster Schedule
STORRS, Conn. – UConn women's volleyball returns home this weekend to begin a four-match homestand. The Huskies welcome Georgetown on Friday afternoon before battling Villanova on Saturday night.
Scouting the Huskies (14-4, 3-3 BIG EAST)
UConn split its two road matches last weekend, falling to Xavier in four sets before sweeping Butler. Emma Werkmeister led the UConn attack with 3.86 kills per set on the weekend. Werkmeister has a team-high 248 kills on the season (3.70 per set) and enters the weekend just 12 kills shy of the 1,000 kill mark for her career. In last weekend's contests, Loren Winn and Anna Herman stepped up for the Huskies on the offensive end. Winn averaged 2.43 kills per set at a .300 hit percentage. Herman averaged 2.29 kills per set at a .462 percentage. Doga Kutlu directed the UConn attack with 10.43 assists per set. Kutlu played a key defensive role for the Huskies, notching 3.43 digs per set. McKenna Brand continues to anchor the UConn defense, leading the Huskies with 251 digs this season (3.75 digs per set). UConn continued its prowess on the service line, pouring in 11 aces in the win over Butler. The Huskies are averaging 2.23 aces per set in conference play, ranking only behind Creighton (2.84 per set).
Opposition Research
UConn will face the Georgetown Hoyas on Friday at 3:30 p.m. Georgetown enters the weekend with a 10-9 record, tied with the Huskies with a 3-3 record in conference play. The Hoyas are looking to rebound after two home defeats against Villanova and Creighton last weekend. Samantha Soderlund and Dionna Mitchell have led the Hoya attack, averaging 3.35 and 3.00 kills per set in conference play, respectively. Mitchell has secured the Georgetown defense, leading the team with 2.04 digs per set in conference play. Juleigh Urbina orchestrates the Hoy attack, averaging 5.35 assists per set. Urbina ranks second in the conference with .65 aces per set. UConn took both meetings from Georgetown last season, defeating the Hoyas in four sets last November in D.C. The Huskies lead the all-time series 20-19.
Villanova comes to Storrs on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. with a 13-4 overall record and a 4-2 mark in conference play. The Wildcats will travel to Providence on Friday night before Saturday's showdown. Abby Harrell paces the 'Nova attack with 3.65 kills per set in conference play. Campbell McKinnon anchors the Wildcat defense with 1.13 blocks per set. McKinnon starred against the Huskies last season in the BIG EAST Tournament, highlighted by a career-high 11 blocks to lead Villanova to a five-set victory. The setting duo of Ava Harris and Alyssa Nelson combine to fuel Villanova's offense. Harris ranks ninth in the conference with 5.27 assists per set, with Nelson right behind in tenth at 5.17 assists per set.
UConn and Villanova played three times last season. The Huskies won both regular-season matchups. The Wildcats avenged the defeats with a five-set victory over UConn in the BIG EAST Tournament. UConn leads the series 27-23 all-time, taking six of the last eight matchups.
Watch and Follow:
Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+. Follow UConn volleyball on Instagram, X @UConnvball, and Facebook with the keyword search "UConn Volleyball."
