Villanova volleyball dropped its second straight BIG EAST road match on Sunday, Oct. 11, falling 3-1 to Marquette at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee.

The Wildcats lost 18-25, 15-25, 25-19, 22-25 and slipped to 9-8 overall and 2-4 in conference play, according to the Villanova Athletics game recap. The defeat followed a 3-1 loss at DePaul on Friday, Oct. 9, leaving a team picked second in the BIG EAST preseason poll still searching for its first conference road win.

Junior middle blocker Campbell McKinnon led Villanova with 15 kills. Annika Veurink posted a career-high 10 kills, and Taylor Lewis added eight. Setter Alyssa Nelson recorded a double-double with 42 assists and 11 digs, while Mina Diggs anchored the back row with 15 digs.

Marquette controlled the early sets. The Golden Eagles jumped to a 7-1 lead in the opener, capitalizing on three Villanova attack errors, and won 25-18. They extended their grip in the second set, building a 21-14 advantage and closing on a 4-1 run to take it 25-15.

Villanova punched back in the third. McKinnon recorded three early kills, and a 4-0 run fueled by Veurink, Lewis and McKinnon pushed the Wildcats ahead 12-7. They held on to win the set 25-19.

The fourth set stayed tight until Marquette ripped off a 5-0 run to lead 18-12. Villanova clawed back to 18-17 but could not complete the comeback. The Wildcats saved three match points on kills from Reagan McGivern and freshman Michelle Eburuoh, a Cardinal O'Hara graduate, plus a Marquette setting error. A Villanova attack error on the final rally ended it 25-22.

McKinnon told the Philadelphia Inquirer on Oct. 8, before the road trip began, that the team was still searching for consistency. "We all know we're very capable volleyball players, but at times, things can be choppier rather than smooth playing," she said.

Head coach Josh Steinbach, now in his 20th season at Villanova, told the Inquirer the same day that the program was dealing with frustration over its record. He said McKinnon needed to stay the course and not let the results affect her play.

Two losses later, the Wildcats return to campus for a Wednesday, Oct. 14 home match against Georgetown at 7 p.m.