PHILADELPHIA, PA - The La Salle Explorer volleyball team returned home to Tom Gola Arena Wednesday night to host the Villanova Wildcats in their first home match since the Labor Day weekend tournament.  After dropping the first game 30-20, the Explorers forced game 2 to 31-29 and then earned a 31-29 win in game three to force the fourth game.  The Wildcats came on strong in game four, but the Explorers fought hard before seeing the match slip away with a 30-21 loss.  With Villanova's 3-1, they improve to 5-8, while the Explorers drop to 6-10 for the season.

Junior Brittany Hanley delivered 10 kills to lead the Explorers' offense, while Christa Dominick returned to the line-up after missing two weekend matches to land nine kills.  Setter Caitlin Conner tallied 29 assists on 44 kills and knocked down two kills of her own.

Conner made a strong all-around showing, matching libero Carolyn Judge's 14 digs and assisting on four blocks.  Dominick led all players, with a solo block and eight assisted blocks.  Sophomore Jackie Kushman also contributed on defense with 11 digs.

The Wildcats were led by Alona Cherkez and Amy Guylas who each posted 14 kills.  Adrian Semrau dropped 11 kills on La Salle.  Setter Jenna Link tallied 37 assists in three games and Chelsea Graman earned 12 assists in a two games.

On defense for the Wildcats, Guylas tallied 23 digs and Emily Brown contributed 11.  At the net, Semrau tallied three assisted blocks and Whitney Harrington added one soloe and two assisted blocks.

The Explorers return to the road to open the Atlantic 10 season on Friday, when they take on Saint Louis at 7:00 p.m.