Villanova volleyball concluded its regular season with a straight-set victory on Friday night against Providence, and a loss to UConn on Saturday, Nov. 23.
The Wildcats closed out the regular season with a 9-9 record in the Big East and a 16-13 overall record.
On Saturday, Jake Nevin Field House was filled with emotion as the team honored its five seniors, Elizabeth Feczko, Ellery Gray, Rose Crist, Ozzie Ozonoh and Dani Ortiz, before the start of the game.
“[The senior class] is a lot of fun,” Villanova head coach Josh Steinbach said. “They are really good kids that are a lot of fun to be around. They have made four years of hanging out with them an entertaining four years.”
For the seniors, the night was a chance to reflect on their volleyball journey and the bond they’ve built with their teammates and coaches.
“[This team] has shown me what true family looks like,” Ozonoh, a middle blocker, said. “Going through the ups and downs of [my] volleyball career and showing how to be resilient has really made me a stronger person at the end of it.”
Fueled by the energy of senior night, the Wildcats played with intensity against the Huskies, battling through a closely contested match but falling in straight sets (25-23, 25-19, 29-27).
In her final home game, senior libero Elizabeth Feczko closed the night with 10 digs and five assists.
“It has been so awesome [playing for Villanova],” Feczko said. “I am really grateful for my four years and this year is a really special crew. We have a lot of awesome freshmen, and I have enjoyed every second of getting to know them and getting to be on the court with them. I am going to miss it when its over.”
Despite the loss, the Wildcats gave everything they had on the court, demonstrating the drive and dedication they had shown all season long. Villanova fought point for point with the Huskies, pushing UConn to the end in each set. The third set had everyone on their feet as it extended into extra points, with both teams fighting hard.
“I thought we played really hard,” Steinbach said. “It was an exciting volleyball match, but we did leave a couple of points on the table, but [overall] our execution was good.”
On Friday night, Villanova defeated Providence in dominant straight sets (25-15, 25-15, 25-11). The underclassman outside hitters put on a strong performance to help lead in scoring.
Outside hitter sophomore Abby Harrell ended the night with 11 kills and three aces. Freshman outside hitter Taylor Lewis had seven kills, and freshman Cat Young had six kills and two aces. Defensively, Feczko anchored in the back row with a total of 12 digs, limiting the Friar’s ability to generate momentum.
With the regular season over, Villanova will head to the Big East Tournament, which starts on Wednesday, Nov. 27, in Omaha, NE.
The Wildcats enter as the No. 6 seed and will have a rematch with No. 3 seed UConn.
