Wildcats Return Dwelling For Jam The Jake and Matchup With The Musketeers

VILLANOVA, Pa. – For the primary time in almost a month, Villanova volleyball will return to the pleasant confines of Jake Nevin Field House with a pair of BIG EAST opponents on faucet for this weekend.

Villanova (11-2, 2-0 BIG EAST) will host Butler on Friday night time earlier than a Saturday night sq. off towards the Xavier Musketeers.

JAM. THAT. JAKE    

Friday night time on the Jake Nevin Field House will mark an annual custom for Villanova volleyball as it is time for this yr’s iteration of Jam the Jake. The previous three years have all seen upwards of 600 followers jamming “the Jake” for this promotion, and the ‘Cats hope 2025 will likely be no totally different. Last yr’s JTJ was the opening dwelling match of the season towards Binghamton and noticed greater than 650 followers in attendance. The 2023 model additionally featured the Butler Bulldogs as over 700 spectators have been available to witness that yr’s, and the season earlier than was a five-set win over Georgetown for Josh Steinbach‘s 250th profession victory in entrance of 625 folks.

UNBEATEN NEAR THE BIG APPLE    

The opening weekend of BIG EAST play featured a pair of Wildcat wins in several style, escaping from the New York metropolitan space with a five-set outlasting of St. John’s and a fast dispatching of Seton Hall. The ‘Cats dominated the Red Storm in each different set on Friday night time, successful the primary and third earlier than lastly blowing out the Johnnies with a 15-6 fifth body to seize the convention opener. Saturday featured Villanova’s quickest match of the yr, manhandling the Pirates in straight units to go 2-0 within the first weekend of the BIG EAST slate for the second straight season.

WILDCATS IN THE NATIONAL STATS    

It’s been a high-level offense powering Villanova to the profitable begin to 2025, main the BIG EAST in three main attacking classes. The ‘Cats are a high 10 crew nationally for assists per set (eighth, 13.31), whereas rating sixteenth in kills per set (14.14) and hitting share (.289) to guide the league in all three classes. Individually, Campbell McKinnon is the BIG EAST chief and tenth within the nation for hitting share (.455) and ended the non-conference slate with the best clip within the nation for gamers above 100 kills. Abby Harrell is high 70 within the nation for factors (217.5), whole kills (189) and repair aces (22), and reigning BIG EAST Freshman of the Week Reagan McGivern sits third within the convention for hitting share.

BREAKING DOWN BUTLER

• The Bulldogs have begun the season with a sub-.500 file, proudly owning a 7-8 mark proper now with a pair of BIG EAST losses at Xavier and No. 16 Creighton. BU swept its opening weekend and received one matchup every on the subsequent two tournaments earlier than ending the non-conference with a pair of victories.
• Butler is paced by sophomore hitter Alaleh Tolliver who leads the league in whole kills (221 with greater than 4 per set), whereas junior setter Kaylee Finnegan tops the convention in whole assists and libero Lauren Evans ranks third within the BIG EAST for digs.
• The all-time sequence between these two packages is almost even because the Bulldogs maintain a 12-11 benefit over VU regardless of the ‘Cats successful the newest three and 9 of the final 11 since November 2018.

MATCHING UP WITH THE MUSKETEERS

• Xavier maintains a 12-2 file up to now of the season with only one loss coming in non-conference and the one different defeat coming at No. 16 Creighton final Friday. X swept all three preseason tournaments with the one defeat being a midweek in-state battle at Cincinnati.
• The Musketeers are led by Emma Grace who’s high 10 within the league for each kills and digs per set whereas each middles (McKinley Boehm and King of Prussia native Margo Kemp) are high 10 within the league for blocks and Macy Hatkevich is fourth in assists per set.
• Villanova’s sequence towards Xavier is equivalent to the one with Butler because the ‘Cats path the Musketeers 12-11, though Villanova received each matchups final yr (an October sweep in Cincinnati and four-set W at Nevin in November).

Each matchup will function stats courtesy of StatBroadcast and streaming obtainable on ESPN+.

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