Friday, October 30
Villanova, Pa.
6:00 PM
Creighton University
17-8, 11-1BIG EAST
2
at
3
Villanova
20-5, 10-2BIG EAST
1
2
3
4
5
F
Creighton
25
25
23
25
17
2
Villanova
27
22
25
19
19
3
Amanda Foje had a career-high three aces on Friday.
Photo by: Steve Branscombe
Volleyball Has 12-Match Win Streak Snapped in Five Sets at Villanova
10/30/2015 9:00:00 PM | Volleyball
Creighton saves six match points, but it wasn't enough.
VILLANOVA, Pa. -- Creighton saved six match points in the fifth set, but it wasn't enough as Villanova ended the Bluejays 12-match win streak with a 19-17 win in the fifth set to take a 3-2 decision on Friday night.
Scores of the match in favor of Villanova were 27-25, 22-25, 25-23, 19-25, 19-17.
Creighton's lead in the BiG EAST standings was trimmed to one game with the loss in the battle between the first-place Bluejays (17-8, 11-1 BIG EAST) and second-place Wildcats (20-5, 10-2 BIG EAST). It was 'Nova's first victory over Creighton in six all-time meetings.
'I thought it was a great match," said Creighton head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth. "Hats off to Villanova, I thought they played great volleyball. Obviously we're disappointed, but this team always plays hard."
The first set belonged to Villanova, which raced to an early lead before a late comeback from Creighton fell just short. The Wildcats built a 6-2 lead that would stretch to 16-8 before CU rallied. The Jays trailed 24-20 before surviving four set points to even the score for the first time since 1-1. CU withstood Villanova's fifth set point at 25-24 to tie it, only to see a kill by Lauren Carpenter end the set with VU in front, 27-25.
The second set was close throughout. Just when it looked like Villanova was in control with a 20-18 lead, Amanda Foje came in and served a 6-0 blitz that brought CU to set point. On CU's third attempt to even the match, Lauren Smith put down her fourth kill of the day to give CU a 25-22 victory and tie the match heading into intermission. Jess Bird had five kills in the second set, giving her a team-best eight by the half.
The third set was another close one. Creighton trailed most of the set, only to tie the score at 23-all on a kill from Smith. But the Wildcats would take a 2-1 lead in the match by taking the next two points to win a 25-23 decision.
Creighton finally created some breathing room in the fourth, taking a 25-19 victory to deadlock the match at two sets each. Taryn Kloth led CU with four kills in the set, adding two blocks.
The fifth was an intense 25-minute battle that featured nine ties and a pair of lead changes. Foje's career-high third ace gave Creighton its final lead of the contest at 9-8, but plenty of drama remained. The Wildcats clawed back with a 6-2 run to take a 14-11 lead and earn three match points. Jaali Winters stepped up, pounding three consecutive kills, to even the match at 14-all in the fifth set. Creighton would also stave off match point chances by the Wildcats at 15-14, 16-15 and 17-16. With the score knotted at 17-all, Claire Crutchfield had her career-high 20th kill for Villanova, and a heavily-disputed attack error call against Creighton ended the match.
Winters led Creighton with 19 kills and provided 13 digs for her ninth double-double, while Maggie Baumert also had a double-dip with 52 assists and 16 digs. Jess Bird had 15 kills for CU, and Kloth supplied 11 kills. Kate Elman led the defense with a season-high 29 digs, recording five or more in each set. Creighton finished with 68 kills, four aces, 96 digs and 12 blocks on .238 hitting.
Crutchfield owned 20 kills to lead Villanova and was one of five Wildcat players with double-figure kills on the evening. The bulk of the assists came from Emma Pettit, who had 67 assists and 19 digs. Allison Fitzgerald led an inspired defensive effort with 32 digs. Overall, Villanova had 80 kills, nine aces, 100 digs and five blocks on .237 hitting.
Creighton returns to action on Saturday at 6 pm Central when it faces Seton Hall (11-13, 5-7 BIG EAST) in South Orange, N.J.
Scores of the match in favor of Villanova were 27-25, 22-25, 25-23, 19-25, 19-17.
Creighton's lead in the BiG EAST standings was trimmed to one game with the loss in the battle between the first-place Bluejays (17-8, 11-1 BIG EAST) and second-place Wildcats (20-5, 10-2 BIG EAST). It was 'Nova's first victory over Creighton in six all-time meetings.
'I thought it was a great match," said Creighton head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth. "Hats off to Villanova, I thought they played great volleyball. Obviously we're disappointed, but this team always plays hard."
The first set belonged to Villanova, which raced to an early lead before a late comeback from Creighton fell just short. The Wildcats built a 6-2 lead that would stretch to 16-8 before CU rallied. The Jays trailed 24-20 before surviving four set points to even the score for the first time since 1-1. CU withstood Villanova's fifth set point at 25-24 to tie it, only to see a kill by Lauren Carpenter end the set with VU in front, 27-25.
The second set was close throughout. Just when it looked like Villanova was in control with a 20-18 lead, Amanda Foje came in and served a 6-0 blitz that brought CU to set point. On CU's third attempt to even the match, Lauren Smith put down her fourth kill of the day to give CU a 25-22 victory and tie the match heading into intermission. Jess Bird had five kills in the second set, giving her a team-best eight by the half.
The third set was another close one. Creighton trailed most of the set, only to tie the score at 23-all on a kill from Smith. But the Wildcats would take a 2-1 lead in the match by taking the next two points to win a 25-23 decision.
Creighton finally created some breathing room in the fourth, taking a 25-19 victory to deadlock the match at two sets each. Taryn Kloth led CU with four kills in the set, adding two blocks.
The fifth was an intense 25-minute battle that featured nine ties and a pair of lead changes. Foje's career-high third ace gave Creighton its final lead of the contest at 9-8, but plenty of drama remained. The Wildcats clawed back with a 6-2 run to take a 14-11 lead and earn three match points. Jaali Winters stepped up, pounding three consecutive kills, to even the match at 14-all in the fifth set. Creighton would also stave off match point chances by the Wildcats at 15-14, 16-15 and 17-16. With the score knotted at 17-all, Claire Crutchfield had her career-high 20th kill for Villanova, and a heavily-disputed attack error call against Creighton ended the match.
Winters led Creighton with 19 kills and provided 13 digs for her ninth double-double, while Maggie Baumert also had a double-dip with 52 assists and 16 digs. Jess Bird had 15 kills for CU, and Kloth supplied 11 kills. Kate Elman led the defense with a season-high 29 digs, recording five or more in each set. Creighton finished with 68 kills, four aces, 96 digs and 12 blocks on .238 hitting.
Crutchfield owned 20 kills to lead Villanova and was one of five Wildcat players with double-figure kills on the evening. The bulk of the assists came from Emma Pettit, who had 67 assists and 19 digs. Allison Fitzgerald led an inspired defensive effort with 32 digs. Overall, Villanova had 80 kills, nine aces, 100 digs and five blocks on .237 hitting.
Creighton returns to action on Saturday at 6 pm Central when it faces Seton Hall (11-13, 5-7 BIG EAST) in South Orange, N.J.
Team Stats
CU
VU
Kills
68
80
Errors
20
28
Attempts
202
219
Hitting %
.238
.237
Points
84.0
94.0
Assists
63
76
Aces
4
9
Blocks
12.0
5.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
19
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Players Mentioned
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/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballOH
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