Volleyball Tops UConn on Cherry Out Night

Wednesday, November 18

McGonigle Hall

5:00 p.m.

Temple University

21-8, 12-5American

UConn

16-12, 10-7American

UConn

Temple University

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Volleyball Tops UConn on Cherry Out Night

11.18.15 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Ed LeFurge, Athletic Communications Intern

PHILADELPHIA — In a match-up of teams battling it out for second-place in The American, it was Temple that came out on top, as the Owls topped visiting UConn, 3-1 (25-16, 21-25, 26-24, 25-16), in Wednesday evening volleyball action. The win lifts Temple to 21-8 overall, 12-5 in The American. UConn, who entered the match winners of nine out of their last 10, fell to 16-12, 10-7 in conference play.

Temple had three players finish in double-figures in kills, with sophomore Irem Asci leading the pack with a match-best 17. Junior Kirsten Overton racked up 13 kills, hitting .333 with six total blocks, while sophomore Izzy Rapacz had 10 kills.

Senior Sandra Sydlik ran the offense, dishing out 43 assists, while adding nine digs and four blocks. Seniors Alyssa Drachslin (19) and Kayla Yingling (15) combined for 34 of the team's 70 digs, while sophomore Dara Peric finished with 14 and Asci added eight.

All sets in the match started with a 6-2 run with sets one, three, and four by the Owls.

In the first set, Temple started off hot with a 6-2 run, including a pair of aces – one from both Drachslin and Asci. After that, the Owls kept rolling as they led the entire match with the Huskies closest margin at just two points (7-5). Asci, Overton, and Rapacz all had four kills, combining for 12 of the teams 13 and leading the team to a hitting percentage of .346 as the Owls won, 25-16.

The Huskies rebounded in the second set with their own 6-2 run, however the Owls were ready for a fight. During the second set, there were six lead changes as the set went back and forth including nine ties. The Owls then took an 8-3 run with sophomore Janine Simmons coming up with two blocks and a kill before the Huskies called a timeout. The set continued to go back and forth as Sydlik picked up a pair of blocks and Overton notching three kills as the Huskies took set two, 25-21.

Temple bounced back strong in the third set as they took a quick 6-2 lead, but the Huskies were persistent and fought back to tie the set twice. Asci and Overton led the way for the Owls in this set as they combined for 12 of the team's 13 kills in set three. Temple led 23-16 as the Huskies went on a 7-0 run to tie it at 23. The teams split the next two points and the Owls took a timeout. Coming out of the break, Temple rallied with two straight points – a kill by Overton and then a slam by Asci to win the set, 26-24.

The Owls kept the momentum in the fourth and final set as they started on a 6-2 run as Rapacz picked up two kills for the team. After three lead changes early, Temple ran off with the game as the team had a hitting percentage of .310 and holding the Huskies to just .083. The Owls closed out the set at 25-17, earning the match win.

Temple has short rest, hosting Tulsa on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast by the American Digital Network, as one of the first volleyball matches ever on the ADN schedule.

Box Score (PDF)