Huskies Drop Home Finale to Xavier

Saturday, November 8

3:00 PM

University of Connecticut

18-8,7-7Big East

Xavier

24-2,13-1Big East

Xavier

UConn

11/8/2025 5:50:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

STORRS, Conn. — UConn women's volleyball (18-8, 7-7 Big East) fell to Xavier (24-2, 13-1 Big East) in a tightly contested four-set match (19-25, 22-25, 25-22, 26-28) on Saturday afternoon at the UConn Volleyball Center.

UConn kicked off the first set with an early 4-1 lead, gaining the advantage after kills from Audrey Rome and Emma Werkmeister. Xavier responded to the the score at 5-5, aided by terminations from McKinley Boehm and Charlotte Moriarty. Werkmeister's consecutive kills later brought UConn back into contention, closing the Musketeer lead to 19-17. However, Xavier capitalized on UConn errors to regain control. Moriarty and Margo Kemp contributed crucial points for Xavier, leading to a 25-19 set victory.

Anna Taylor and Emma Grace led the charge for Xavier in the second set, putting the visitors in front 9-6. Grace and Taylor extended the Musketeer edge to 14-9, pushing the Huskies into a timeout. Werkmeister and Eli Adams fired in aces for UConn, cutting the Xavier lead to 17-16. Despite the Huskies' late push, which included a block by Werkmeister and Eli Adams to bring the score to 23-21, Moriarty and Taylor closed the door on the second set with a kill apiece, lifting the Musketeers to a two-set lead.

With their backs against the wall, the Huskies kicked off the third set with a 7-2 lead, thanks to an ace from Doga Kutlu and two from McKenna Brand. Xavier capitalized on UConn miscues, pulling within one at 10-9. Werkmeister kept the pressure on, with multipke kills to keep the Huskies in front 19-16. After Emma Grace brought the Musketeers within one at 21-20, Werkmeister fired in two more kills. Adams and Jess Perry combined for a block to secure the third set for the Huskies.

Werkmeister's early kills helped UConn open a 4-0 lead in the fourth set, assisted by Kutlu's precise setting. Xavier responded with a run of their own, narrowing the gap to 4-3 with kills from Grace and Taylor. The Huskies then surged ahead to 9-3, powered by consecutive service aces from Kutlu. Xavier fought back, with Taylor contributing key points and multiple UConn errors bringing the score to 14-13 in UConn's favor. With their eyes on a fifth set, the Huskies got the lead to 24-21, but the Musketeers went on a 4-0 run to leap in front 25-24. Werkmeister put UConn on the edge, but Moriarty sent in two consecutive kills to complete the fourth set comeback for Xavier and end the match in four sets.

Werkmeister led the Huskies with 23 kills. Kutlu recorded 42 assists, facilitating the offensive plays while adding three service aces. Brand was a key defensive presence, collecting 16 digs to help stabilize the backcourt. Rome contributed 11 kills.

Taylor contributed 15 kills with a .364 hitting percentage for Xavier. Grace led the team with 21 kills and a .315 hitting percentage, adding 12 digs. Hatkevich facilitated the offense with 37 assists, while Kelsey Niesen anchored the defense with 18 digs.

Of Note: