Volleyball Falls to Villanova on the Road

Friday, September 15

Philadelphia, Pa.

7:00 PM

Temple University

4-4

Villanova

7-4

Temple

Villanova

Photo by: Nguyen Ho

Volleyball Falls to Villanova on the Road

9.15.17 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Behind the Scenes with Temple Volleyball

PHILADELPHIA -- Temple volleyball rallied for a third set victory, but Villanova used a high-powered offense to take the match, 3-1, on Friday at Jake Nevins Field House. All four sets were decided by five points or less, with Villanova taking the 25-21, 25-23 23-25, 25-20 victory. Temple moves to 4-4 on the season, while the Wildcats improve to 7-4.

KEYS TO THE MATCH
> Four Villanova players struck for 11 or more kills, as the Wildcats hit .242.
> Though Temple had a slim edge in blocks, Villanova out-dug the Owls, 75-56.
> Temple hit just .146 as a team.

INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS
> Senior Irem Asci tallied a match and season-high 19 kills, also adding eight digs and three aces.
> Junior Iva Deak also hit a season best with 10 kills, adding a team-high five blocks.
> Senior Janine Simmons had eight kills with three blocks.
> Junior Hannah Vandegrift tallied her first double-double of the season with 39 assists and 10 digs.
> Senior Dara Peric led the Owls with 17 digs, also adding five kills.
> Junior Mia Heirakuji (8 digs) and freshman Averi Salvador (7 digs) rounded out the defense.

SET ONE: Villanova 25-21
> Villanova led most of the way in set one, but the Owls stayed within two.
> Despite nine ties, Temple didn't take its first lead until an Asci kill made it 17-16 Temple.
> The match was tied three more times, before Villanova pulled away to win 25-21.

SET TWO: Villanova 25-23
> Temple had an early lead in the second set, but another tight one saw nine ties and six lead changes.
> Villanova used a 7-2 run to go up 17-12.
> The Owls responded with an 8-3 surge to knot things at 20-20.
> Despite Temple spoiling three set points for Villanova, the Wildcats took set two, 25-23.

SET THREE: Temple 25-23
> Temple started set three on a tear, going up 7-1, and later extending the lead to 11-4.
> Villanova closed the gap with a 4-0 run, making it 11-8.
> Though Temple pushed the lead back to five, Villanova battled back to tie things at 16-16
> After four more ties, Villanova grabbed their first lead of the set at 20-19.
> Temple went up 24-21 on a Rapacz kill and then finished things out 25-23.

SET FOUR: Villanova 25-20
> Villanova from start to finish in the final frame, but the Owls got to within one sevral times early on.
> The Wildcats pulled away late, going on an 8-3 run to take a 22-16 lead.
> Temple rallied to make it 23-20, as Janine Simmons had two kills and two blocks down the stretch.
> A close call that would have made it 23-21 went Villanova's way, setting up a 24-20 set point that the Wildcats finished off.

UP NEXT
> Temple opens conference play on Friday, September 22, taking on Wichita State at 7:00 p.m. at McGonigle Hall.
> The game is a CHERRY OUT, and fans are encouraged to wear cherry to the game.
> Free t-shirts will be available while supplies last.

Behind the Scenes with Temple Volleyball