Los Angeles, Calif. -- The UMBC Volleyball team gave Kasey Crider his first win as a head coach when it beat Villanova in four sets (25-22, 21-25, 25-17, 26-24) in the first game of the Cardinal and Gold Classic at USC on Friday night.

UMBC (1-0) got 22 kills and 10 digs from Mia Bilusic (Zagreb, Croatia), while Kamani Conteh (New Castle, Del.) had a dazzling performance, finishing with 16 kills on on .406 hitting and 12 digs. 

Freshman setter Serin Maden (Ankara, Turkey) had an incredible debut, tallying 47 assists, five digs and two blocks. Emily Ferketic (Pittsburgh, Pa.) added 11 kills, while Michela De Marzi (Milan, Italy) made a triumphant return after missing the fall 2021 season due to injury, tallying six kills on .417 hitting. Mila Ilieva (Vidin, Bulgaria) had a team-best five blocks, while Aysia Miller (Mililani, Hawaii) had 11 digs in her first match as libero.

The Retrievers fell behind 8-4 early in the first set, but battled back and eventually won the set after Conteh got back-to-back kills to end it. After Villanova (1-1) took the second set, UMBC jumped out to a big lead in the third. The Retrievers held off a late Wildcat rally and scored the final six points to take the set. The fourth was a tight set, Villanova eventually pulled ahead, 19-16, before UMBC scored four straight to go up 20-19. The Wildcats would jump back in front, 22-21, before a pair of Conteh kills gave UMBC the lead right back. With the score tied at 24, Bilusic would get back-to-back kills to end it.

UMBC faces No.24 USC tomorrow at 1:30 p.m EST, and follow that up by playing defending Patriot League champion Colgate at 8 p.m. EST.

Fans can watch both matches for free on the links at UMBCRetriever.com