Volleyball Heads To Georgetown and Villanova For Weekend Matches

PROVIDENCE, R.I.- The Providence College volleyball team heads to Georgetown and Villanova this weekend for a pair of BIG EAST matches. The Friars take on the Hoyas on Friday, Nov. 8 at 5:00 p.m. and the Wildcats on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 4:00 p.m. The match against Georgetown will be broadcast live on BIG EAST Digital Network (BEDN). In the first meetings, Providence fell to Georgetown in five sets and Villanova in four sets.

SCOUTING THE FRIARS: Providence picked up its first BIG EAST win of the season against Seton Hall in straight sets this past weekend. In their other match, the Friars fell to St. John's in four sets. Providence stands at 6-19 overall (1-11 BIG EAST).

Sasha Rudich (Austin, Texas) provided a large presence in the middle this weekend. Rudich tallied a team-high in an individual match with nine total blocks in the win against Seton Hall.

Allison Barber (Woodbury, Minn.) added her 19^th double-double of the season against Seton Hall with 24 assists and 13 digs. Barber ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in assists per set (8.25). Barber is 39 assists away from 3,000 in her career.

Addison Root (Wichita, Kan.) led the Friars in kills in both matches this weekend with nine and 14, respectively. Root has led the Friars in kills in six out of the last seven matches.

Jenae Alderson (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in hitting percentage (.290) and third on the Friars with kills (171).

SCOUTING THE HOYAS: Georgetown enters the weekend on a five-game skid after losing twice to Villanova the past weekend. The Hoyas have lost 10 out of the last 11 matches and hold a 12-14 overall record. Georgetown is eighth in the BIG EAST with a 2-10 conference record.

Iva Vujosevic leads the Hoyas offense with 335 kills on the season. Vujosevic ranks second in service aces per set (0.46), third in points per set (4.19) and fourth in kills per set (3.60) in the BIG EAST. Vujosevic has earned BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll honors five times this season.

Emma Plutnicki ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in assists per set (8.10). In her absence the past two weekends, Margo Pivonka has led the Hoyas in assists with 26 per match.

Jessica Cusi leads the Hoya defense, ranking ninth in the BIG EAST in digs per set (3.62).

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS: Villanova is in the midst of a five-match win streak after defeating Georgetown in both matches this past weekend. The Wildcats rank third in the BIG EAST with a 9-3 conference record. Villanova is 18-6 overall.

Regan Lough ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in digs per set (4.75). Lough has been named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll five times this season. Lough averaged 13.5 digs per match this past weekend.

Emma Decker ranks second in the BIG EAST in assists per set (10.10). Decker became Villanova's all-time career assists leader this past weekend, with 4152 assists. Decker has been named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll twice this season.

The Wildcats have had a different kills leader during each of their five-match win streak. Sanaa Barnes, Clare Delaplane, Mallory Potts, Sophia Howling and Kathleen Johnson have each led the offensive charge.

WHAT'S NEXT: Providence heads to Butler and Xavier next weekend. The Friars take on the Bulldogs on Friday, Nov. 15 at 6:00 p.m. and the Musketeers on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 1:00 p.m. In the first meetings, Providence fell to Butler and Xavier. Both matches were decided in four sets.

Follow @FriarVolleyball on Twitter for live updates.

-GO FRIARS-

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Players Mentioned

Jenae Alderson

Allison Barber

Addison Root

Sasha Rudich