Volleyball Edges UConn in Five-Set Thriller

Wednesday, November 12

McGonigle Hall

7:00 PM

Temple University

21-6, 12-3

UConn

10-16, 3-12

UConn

Temple

Sandra Sydlik had 54 assists, including #1000 for the season

Photo by: Mitchell Leff

Volleyball Edges UConn in Five-Set Thriller

11.12.14 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Temple volleyball won its ninth-straight match, topping visiting UConn in a five-set thriller, 25-22, 22-25, 25-22, 20-25, 15-11. The Owls move to 21-6 with the win, including a 12-3 mark in the American Athletic Conference. UConn dips to 10-16, 3-12 in the conference.

Four players reached double figures in kills, led by sophomore Kirsten Overton who racked up 13 kills without an error. Classmate Tyler Davis recorded 15 winners, while senior Jennifer Iacobini added 12 and freshman Dara Peric picked up 11. Peric and junior Sandra Sydlik each had double-doubles, as Peric added 16 digs and Sydlik ran the offense with 54 assists to go along with 25 digs. Sydlik's final assist of the night gave her 1,000 for the season, only the third time it's ever been done in the rally-scoring era for Temple.

Elsewhere, junior Alyssa Drachslin captained the Owls defense with 25 digs, while classmate Kayla Yingling added 14. Rounding out the box score, junior Halle McCullough notched nine kills and threw down a team-high five blocks.

"We lacked clean play and execution today, but it's more mind than body," noted head coach Bakeer Ganes. "The team showed the will to win and I'm proud of them for that."

Temple opened the match with a tight 25-22 win in the first stanza, and although the Owls never trailed, UConn stayed within three points much of the action. Temple grabbed an early 10-7 edge on back-to-back kills from Peric, before UConn closed the gap to one point on two occasions, 14-13 and 20-19. Temple then scored five of the next eight points, closing out the set with a pair of Overton kills and a Huskies attack error.

Set two was just as tight, with neither team leading by more than three points until the final visitors surge. UConn grabbed a few early advantages, but Temple stayed close, tying the set at 19-19 on a Peric winner. UConn then scored four straight to open a 23-19 lead, highlighted by a kill and a block from Immanuella Anagu. The Owls were able to cut the lead to 24-22 on a block from Iacobini and McCullough, but UConn tied up the match with a final kill by Kenya Cason to take the second set 25,-22.

The back-and-forth match saw another close set in the third frame. Temple had the early edge at 10-7, but UConn battled back to tie it at 16-16. Temple crept forward once again, taking a 23-19 lead after hot hitting from middles, Overton and McCullough. UConn was able to rebound and come within one at 23-22, but Temple closed out the set with an Overton kill and a UConn error to go up, 2-1.

Sideouts were the story of set four, as the teams stayed within one point of each other until UConn opened up a two-point edge at 10-8. Temple knotted the match at 14-14, but UConn answered back with some huge blocks to open an 18-15 advantage. Temple was unable to stop a 6-3 run by UConn down the stretch, as the Huskies got a final kill from Anagu to take the set, 25-20.

In the deciding fifth set, UConn got on the board first with two straight points, but Temple regained its composure, scoring four straight to take a 4-2 lead. The Huskies answered and knotted the match at 5-5 before three straight points put the visitors in the drivers seat at 8-5. Following a Temple timeout, the Owls stormed back with a 4-0 run to take a 9-8 lead. UConn wouldn't go away, tying the match at 9-9, 10-10, and 11-11, before Temple rattled off four-straight with Yingling serving to grab the fifth set, 15-11, and the match, 3-2. Davis and Iacobini each had two kills in the final run, with Iacobini tipping a ball that fell just out of the reach of UConn for the deciding point.

Although today's match wasn't the cleanest of wins, Ganes was happy with the way the team bounced back. "When you go behind three points in a 15-point game, it's almost like being down six in a regular one," noted Ganes. "Today was a great example of how pure will and hard work can force luck to be on your side. I'm really proud that they showed that effort, and showed a pure willingness to do whatever it takes to get the win."

Temple is back in action on Friday, with another game on short rest. The Owls will host conference-opponent ECU at 6:30 p.m. on 80's night.

Box Score (PDF) | Post-Match Interviews