The UConn volleyball team lost their undefeated home record this Friday, Nov. 15, falling to DePaul for a second time this season. This leaves Creighton as the only Big East program to remain undefeated at home. The Blue Demons swept the Huskies 3-0 on senior night.
Connecticut started the weekend by honoring their seniors, Doga Kutlu and Carly Furlong, as well as graduate student Taylor Pannell, in their final games in Storrs.
Connecticut was the first to score in the first set with a kill from junior Hanna Tylska, but it was the Blue Demons who took an early 3-2 lead. The Huskies kept it a close game, retaking the lead early into the set. This prompted a four-point scoring run from DePaul, giving them at a 9-7 advantage. The Blue Demons extended their lead to 18-13, putting pressure on the Huskies as they struggled with both service and attack errors. The Huskies fought back, closing the gap to 22-19 after kills from junior Emma Werkmeister, freshman Loren Winn, Pannell and Tylska. However, the Blue Demons continued to rack up kills and took the first set 25-22.
UConn started the second set aggressively, taking a 4-2 lead early on, with kills from redshirt sophomore Audrey Rome and Werkmeister. However, DePaul quickly took the lead, after another 4-0 run. But Connecticut was determined to stay on top, scoring five consecutive points after kills from Kutlu, Tyslka and Rome, which made the score 12-9. The Blue Demons fought back to tie the game and eventually regained the lead with another four consecutive points. The Huskies kept it a close game, as both teams traded points back and forth. However, despite their efforts, it was DePaul that ultimately won the second set 25-23, giving them a two-set advantage.
The third set started much like the others, with UConn scoring first and DePaul quickly taking the lead. However, the Huskies responded quickly, tying the match at four points, after kills from Pannell, Winn and Tylska. The Blue Demons promptly retook the lead and controlled the scoreboard for the majority of the set, going on several scoring runs. Connecticut made a strong effort to close the gap. After going on a 4-0 run, with a kill from Werkmeister and a service ace from Pannell, the Huskies once again tied the game. UConn then went on a second 4-0 run, with kills from Werkmeister and Winn, taking the lead by three points. DePaul fought back to bring the game to yet another 23-23 standstill. Despite the Huskies’ fight, two kills from DePaul put them over the edge and the Blue Demons won the set, 27-25, sweeping the Huskies with a final 3-0 score.
On Saturday, Nov. 16, UConn had its final home game of the season as they welcomed Xavier. This was the second time the programs had faced each other this season. The Huskies had previously lost to the Musketeers 3-2 in late October. Connecticut came into this game looking to salvage their chances at the Big East Tournament and to make up for their previous losses.
Both teams traded points early in the first set. The game came to a standstill at five-all, after kills from Werkmeister and Winn. Though Xavier took the early 8-5 lead, Connecticut responded by scoring five consecutive points from several errors on the Musketeers’ part, giving the Huskies a 10-8 advantage. UConn continued to extend their lead with kills from Kutlu, Pannell and Werkmeister. Xavier put up a strong defensive performance, flipping the lead in their favor, 18-16. Connecticut quickly responded by going on two scoring runs and bringing the scoreboard to 22-20. The Musketeers attempted a comeback, but in the end, two kills from Werkmeister put the Huskies up 25-23, giving them a one-set lead over the Musketeers.
The Musketeers started strong in the second set, taking the lead in the initial moments of the set. However, the Huskies came back and tied the set at 5-5. Though it seemed the Musketeers would take over the set, kills from Kutlu and Tylska brought the Huskies that lead at 10-8. Both teams traded points back and forth to a 13-all standstill. Both programs were evenly matched in this set, as every time it seemed like the Huskies could build a lead, the Musketeers would come right back. The game came to yet another stand still at 17-17.
From there, UConn scored four consecutive points after kills from Werkmeister, Tylska and freshman Anna Herman. Just when it seemed the Huskies were going to win the set, Xavier once again closed the gap, tying the score for the seventh time in the set at 25-25. Despite the strong fight by the Musketeers, Connecticut won the set 29-27, extending their game lead.
Xavier once again was the first to score, but UConn kept their momentum, scoring four consecutive points and taking a one-point lead in the third set. Both programs traded points, with Werkmeister and Tylska taking center stage for the Huskies. The game once again tied at 9-9. UConn retook the lead with kills by Pannell and Werkmeister. From there on, the Huskies controlled the set, scoring several kills and maximizing off attack errors from Xavier. A final kill from Werkmeister won UConn the set 25-24, sweeping Xavier 3-0.
This win was crucial for the Huskies as DePaul, the team directly under UConn in the standings, lost their second match of the weekend. This ensured the Huskies kept their third place standing in the Big East Conference, keeping their dreams of the tournament alive.
Next up, the Huskies will go on the road for their final two conference games as they take on St. John’s and Villanova. These matches will be crucial in securing a spot at the Big East Tournament.