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).
