Volleyball Outlasts Villanova, 3-2

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SOUTH ORANGE, N.J.   Senior Tricia Meyers (Cincinnati, Ohio) posted a season-high 20 kills to guide the Seton Hall volleyball team to a thrilling, 3-2 (25-22, 25-23, 22-25, 22-25, 15-12), victory over Villanova. The win improves the Pirates’ record to 11-10 overall and 3-3 in the BIG EAST.

Meyers boasted a .357 attack percentage, and her six digs also set a new best on the season. Junior Allie Matters (North Tonowanda, N.Y.) had 22 digs, and is now three shy of tying the single-season record at SHU.

Senior Brittany Rahrer (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and sophomore Sarah Osmun (Crystal Lake, Ill.) each notched double-doubles. Rahrer handed out 37 assists and added 17 digs, while Osmun recorded 10 kills and 10 digs, respectively.

The Pirates opened the contest by jumping out to a 7-3 lead. The Wildcats (11-11; 2-4) responded with a 7-2 run to hold a 10-9 edge. Villanova pushed the score to 18-15, and SHU called a timeout to regroup.

After the break, back-to-back Meghan Matusiak (Winfield, Ill.) kills capped a 4-0 spurt to put the Pirates back on top, 19-18. Seton Hall was able to extend the advantage to 23-20, and held off another Wildcat rally to take the frame, 25-22.

Matusiak racked up of eight of her 15 kills in the first set to key the SHU victory.

Set two began much like the first with the Pirates taking an 8-3 lead only to see Villanova comeback to pull within, 12-11. SHU was able to hold off the Wildcats, but were not able to put enough distance away as Villanova went ahead, 19-18.

Trailing 22-20, a Wildcat service error opened the door for the Pirates, and they took advantage by scoring the next three points to pull within a point of taking a 2-0 match lead. After dropping the next point, Rahrer set up Meyers to finish Villanova off heading into the intermission.

SHU looked to put the Wildcats away early in the third set, getting off to another fast start and taking a 7-3 lead. Once again, Villanova clawed back to take a 15-14 lead, but the Pirates kept their composure and regained control to go up, 20-18.

A service error gave the Hall a 22-21 lead, but the Wildcats capitalized on a Pirate attack error, and Villanova took advantage by scoring the final three points to stay alive.

In the fourth set, the Wildcats were the team with the fast start and held a 9-4 lead. Seton Hall was able to tie the score, 10-10, but Villanova quickly regained the momentum and eventually extended the cushion to, 20-16. A Matusiak kill pulled the Pirates within 22-21, however, that was as close as SHU would get as the Wildcats forced the deciding set.

The fifth set was a back-and-forth battle that saw six ties and the lead change hands four times. After the Pirates took a 2-0 lead, Villanova took over control and went ahead, 8-6. Matusiak gave Seton Hall the lead back, 10-9, but the Wildcats scored the next three points and were on the brink of completing a miraculous comeback, forcing another Pirate timeout.

Meyers set the tone with a kill out of the break that seemed to ignite the team. Freshman Rachael Thornquist (Crystal Lake, Ill.) tied the score with a kill, and Meyers slammed home another kill to put SHU ahead, 13-12.

An attack error made it match point for the Pirates, and Thornquist ended the match with her fifth kill of the night.

Dana Tartazky led Villanova with 20 kills, and posted 14 digs. Chelsea Graman had a match-high 50 assists.

The Pirates return to action on Saturday, October 25, when they welcome DePaul to Walsh Gymnasium. Match-time is slated for noon.