Volleyball hits .440 in sweep of Villanova to open BIG EAST play

Box Score (PDF)

MILWAUKEE – Middle blocker Hattie Bray had a near double-double as the Marquette University women's volleyball team swept Villanova, 25-18, 25-15, 25-11, to open BIG EAST Conference play on Friday evening at the Al McGuire Center.

The Golden Eagles (5-7, 1-0 BIG EAST) hit a combined .440 on the night and were led by Aubrey Hamilton's 13 kills and Bray's nine kills and 11 blocks. Senior Carsen Murray hit a team-best .833 with five kills on six errorless swings. Hamilton hit .600 herself (13-1-20) with an ace, three digs and three blocks.

Marquette had a season-high 11.0 total blocks on the night, including five in the opening set.

Abby Harrell had a team-high nine kills for the Wildcats (9-4, 0-1 BIG EAST), which hit a combined .116.

NOTABLE:

The Golden Eagles are 14-5 all-time in BIG EAST Conference lid-lifters since their inaugural league season in 2005 and are 8-1 when those matches are played at the Al McGuire Center.
MU fell behind 2-0 to start the opening set before reeling off the next seven points to force a Villanova timeout.
The Golden Eagles hit .500 in each of the second and third sets.
Entering tonight's match, MU was 83-12 (.874) in BIG EAST play over the last six seasons under Theis (2017-22), including consecutive regular season league titles in 2021 (16-2) and 2022 (17-1).
Marquette was picked to win the BIG EAST in the annual preseason coaches' survey with seven first place votes. MU entered the week with the nation's fifth-toughest schedule.
The Wildcats entered the match as winners of six of their last seven matches, including sweeps of Sacred Heart and Saint Franics (Pa.) last weekend at Jake Nevin Field House.
Middle blocker Madeline Barber entered the match as VU's leader in hitting percentage at .378 and hit -.100 (3-4-10). Barber is the younger sister of former Marquette AVCA All-American Allie Barber.
Marquette holds a 23-4 edge in the all-time series with Villanova, which began when MU entered the BIG EAST for the 2005 campaign.
MU has won each of the last 10 matches after a five-set loss at Jake Nevin on Oct. 14, 2017. Each of the last four matches at the Al were MU sweeps.

UP NEXT: The Golden Eagles host Georgetown on Saturday at 6 p.m. Central time, following the Marquette University Homecoming Block Party, which will be held from 4-6 p.m. on N. 12th Street directly outside the front doors of the Al McGuire Center. The Block Party is the official kickoff of Homecoming activities and features food vendors, a cash bar, music, and games on the block between W. Wisconsin and W. Wells. Students can pick up the official MU Homecoming t-shirt during the match.

Keep up with the Marquette University women's volleyball program through social media by following on X (@MarquetteVB) and Instagram (@MarquetteVB) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteVolleyball).