Oct. 15, 2005
Box Score
Piscataway, N.J. - Villanova University (16-5, 5-2 BIG EAST) lost a close but error-filled conference match to the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers University (9-11, 4-3 BIG EAST) in three games this afternoon.
The scores were 29-31, 31-33, and 22-30. Four of 'Nova's five losses this season have come in three games. This loss snaps a four-match winning streak.
Villanova errors repeatedly gave Rutgers the spark to close out the 'Cats at the end of all three games.
Villanova took a 9-5 lead on a kill by freshman outside hitter Alona Cherkez (Crimea, Ukraine) in the first game. A Wildcat error sparked a Rutgers nine-point run that got the Scarlet Knights to within one, 10-9. RU stayed with the 'Cats and took a 15-14 lead on a service ace by Courtney Stout.
The Scarlet Knights maintained their advantage until Villanova briefly regained the lead twice, at 26-25 on a kill by senior outside hitter Celine Nguyen (Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif.) and at 29-28 on a kill by Cherkez. Rutgers saved game point and earned one for itself after two VU errors. A Lora Yankauskas kill gave the Scarlet Knights the set.
The two teams started the second game with seven ties. Rutgers took the lead, 8-7, with a service ace by Justine Park and held on until a RU attack error gave Villanova a 19-18 edge. Amanda Meyer gave the Scarlet Knights the advantage back with a kill at 27-26. 'Nova saved three game points with kills by Cherkez and sophomore middle blocker Kacy Sellers (Battle Creek, Mich.), the last coming at 30-30. But the Wildcats made two costly errors at the end of the game to gift Rutgers with a 2-0 match score.
Rutgers and Villanova went back and forth to begin the third game. VU earned an 11-7 lead after an error by Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights snatched the advantage from the 'Cats, 17-16, with an Ashleigh Young kill. 'Nova's Sellers knotted the score 19-19 with a kill of her own, but Rutgers broke the game open by stringing together nine consecutive points to hold a 28-19 lead. Yankauskas put down a kill to ignite the rally, and the Scarlet Knights were helped along by six Wildcat errors.
The Scarlet Knights out-hit the Wildcats .232 to .144 and out-blocked them 12.0 to 5.0 in the one hour and 39 minute match.
Cherkez recorded a career-high 20 kills along with eight digs. Nguyen (6 kills), Sellers (8) and junior middle blocker Adrian Semrau (Grafton, Ohio) (6) combined to produce 20 kills between them. Semrau added three blocks in the loss.
