The Official Newsletter of Villanova Athletics

Good Morning, Nova Nation. We love to see our guys getting the call up!

What all do we have in today’s edition? Check it out below!

🏀 The Waiting Game
🥍 And Another One
⚾️ No Place Like Home
🔷 And much more!

Tommy’s Tavern + Tap is proud to be an Official Partner of Villanova Athletics!

🔼 The Waiting Game. With a combined 49 wins, the Villanova basketball programs entering this weekend with one thing on their minds… The Big Dance.

The ‘Cats will await to see their NCAA Tournament fates on Sunday night with the men’s team (24-8) learning their destination at 6 pm on CBS, followed by the women (25-7) at 8 pm on ESPN.

🔼 Havin’ A Blast. Playing at home for the first time this season, the Villanova Softball team had a blast in front of their fans.

The ‘Cats pounded out 14 hits and scored 10 runs en route to a five-inning 10-2 victory over visiting Monmouth on Wednesday afternoon.

Jaclyn Morra went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and Katie Reed blasted her fourth home run of the season to pace the offense.

🥎 The Full Recap

🔼 A True Legend. One of the greatest Irish athletes of all-time, the 1956 Olympic gold medalist in the 1500 meters and a pillar of Villanova Athletics excellence, Ron Delany '58 passed away on Wednesday afternoon in Dublin following a short illness.

A legend in his home country and an inaugural member of numerous Halls of Fame for his career accolades, Delany had just turned 91 last week. It is with heavy hearts that Villanova mourns the passing of one of its most recognizable and accomplished athletes whose wit and wisdom will be always missed and never forgotten.

👟 More On Delany’s Incredible Legacy

Villanova University’s new Master of Science in Sports and Performance Engineering launches this fall. Become a master in biomechanics, analytics and wearable technology while advancing the sports and human tech industry. Join the next generation of performance engineers.

🔼 What A Thriller. What a way to kick off conference action for the Villanova water polo team.

In a back-and-forth battle, the ‘Cats pulled out a 14-13 thriller over La Salle on Wednesday night. It marked the seventh win in the past eight games with Villanova scoring 10-plus goals in each of those seven wins.

Layla Canales led the team on the night with four goals, followed by Anna Painter with three, Riley Hull and Ella Mattocks with two while Sara Withers, Coco Jones and Emmie Mallory scored one each. 

🤽 The Full Recap

🔼 What A Hull. Freshman Riley Hull is making quite a first impression for the Villanova

After posting a 39-point week at the Convergence Tournament in California, the

Riley Hull was named the MAAC Offensive Player of the Week Wednesday after a 39-point week at CSUN and the Convergence Tournament in her home state of California. 

Hull scored 18 goals and assisted 21, while drawing 18 exclusions and picking up 10 steals. The award  is Hull's first Player of the Week honor of her career and third weekly award of her career after she won MAAC Rookie of the Week twice in her freshman season in 2025. 

Hull's seven goals against CSUN March 5 tied the sophomore for third in single-game goals scored. 

Against No. 3 USC, Hull drew five exclusions and picked up two steals. 

Hull leads Villanova with 55 goals, assists with 32 and exclusions drawn with 65.

🔼 The Italian Stallion. A former ‘Cat is moving on in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Former Villanova standout Gordon Graceffo, who is entering his third MLB season with the Cardinals, appeared in one game for Team Italy, who went 4-0 in pool play to punch their ticket to the quarterfinals for just the second time ever.

What’s Ahead is brought to you by our friends at Visit Delco, the #1 source for information on all there is to see and do in Delaware County, PA. Find fantastic places to stay, incredible food and drink, and music and art—and you may even find a few surprises.

Friday, March 13th
🎶 Live Music at WaR3house 3
🥎 Softball vs. Butler @ 3:30pm
⚾️ Baseball at Charleston Southern @ 6pm
👟 Track & Field at NCAA Indoor Championships (Fayetteville, Ark.)
⛳️ Men’s Golf at People’s Championship (St. Simon’s Island, Ga.)

Saturday, March 14th
🎬 Media Film Festival
🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Loyola University (Md.) @ 11am
🤽 Women’s Water Polo vs. Wagner @ 11am
🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Loyola University (Md.) @ 11am
🥍 Men’s Lacrosse vs. #19 Towson @ 12pm
🥎 Softball vs. Butler @ 12pm
⚾️ Baseball at Charleston Southern @ 2pm
👟 Track & Field at NCAA Indoor Championships (Fayetteville, Ark.)
⛳️ Men’s Golf at People’s Championship (St. Simon’s Island, Ga.)

Sunday, March 15th
🖼️ Brandywine Museum of Art: John Sloan’s Street Theater
🥎 Softball vs. Butler @ 12pm
🤽 Women’s Water Polo vs. Long Island @ 1pm
⚾️ Baseball at Charleston Southern @ 1pm

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