The UConn women’s volleyball team has secured a spot in the Big East Tournament, but the season is not done yet. The Huskies will hit the road to face St. John’s and Villanova for their final two regular season games.
This will be the second time this season these programs face the Huskies, with Connecticut beating both teams in early October at home.
The Huskies will hope to continue their winning momentum from last Saturday and feature standout players including freshman McKenna Brand, who was named Big East Defensive Player of the Week. Brand averaged 5.50 digs per set last weekend. Additionally, she totaled seven assists and two service aces during the Huskies’ final weekend playing at home.
On Friday, Nov. 22, UConn will be traveling to Queens, N.Y., to face St. John’s. The Red Storm currently stands with a 20-10 record with 13 of their wins being at home.
St. John’s roster features junior Erin Jones, who was named Big East Offensive Player of the Week this week. Jones leads the team with 407 kills. She totaled 31 kills last weekend and averaged 3.88 kills per set, helping bring the program to two wins on the road. The Red Storm will also bring sophomore Rashanny Solano Smith, who made it onto the Big East honor roll this week after averaging 4.50 digs in their last games. Solano Smith has been an essential player in the Red Storm’s defense and leads the team with 395 digs.
St. John’s is currently on a four-game winning streak and will be trying for a comeback after narrowly losing 3-2 to the Huskies in early October.
On Saturday, Nov. 23, the Huskies will make their way down to Villanova, Pennsylvania, to take on the Villanova Wildcats. This will be a crucial game for the Wildcats, as they are on the verge of not making it to the Big East Tournament. The program currently stands with an 8-8 conference record and is tied with Xavier, who will also be fighting for the final tournament spot.
The Wildcats are led by sophomore Abby Harrell, who was named Big East Freshman of the Year last season. Harrell leads the team with 313 kills and 29 service aces. They will also utilize senior Ozzie Ozonoh, who leads the team with 91 blocks.
The last time the two programs came face to face, the Huskies beat Villanova 3-1. However, this time the Wildcats have a lot more on the line as they will be hoping to clinch the final tournament spot. Connecticut, on the other hand, will be hoping to finish their season strong and win both their games to tie their 2021 season record of 24 wins.
Both games will be streamed on Flo Sports and will take place at 7 p.m.