The Official Newsletter of Villanova Athletics
Good Morning, Nova Nation. The power of Nova Nation is always on full display on 1842 Day!
What all do we have in today’s edition? Check it out below!
🏀 Special Guests
⚽️ Two-For-One Special
🏑 Roll Call
🔷 And much more!
Tommy’s Tavern + Tap is proud to be an Official Partner of Villanova Athletics!
🔼 Special Guests. The Nova Knicks are coming home.
New York Knicks standouts – and Villanova alums – Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart – will appear at Sunday's Nova Nation Tip-Off presented by Santander.
Admission to the season kickoff event in Finneran Pavilion for the 2026-27 Men's and Women's Basketball seasons is free and open to the public. An autograph session featuring both current rosters begins at 6 p.m. The event begins at 7 p.m.
The Arkema Scholar-Athlete of the Month is women’s soccer junior forward Dez Zapata!
Zapata, a Psychology major, has led the team with five points this month, scoring two goals and an assist in that span for a Wildcat team that is still unbeaten through the first nine games of the season.
🔼 Primetime Player. He may have been wearing a different uniform, but the scoring hasn’t slowed down for former Wildcat Eric Dixon.
Dixon, Villanova’s all-time leading scorer, brought home MVP accolades after helping lead the NBA G League United team to the 2026 FIBA Intercontinental Cup championship.
In his four games at the tournament, Dixon averaged 16.3 points and 4.5 rebounds.
In his Villanova career (162 games), how many points per game did Eric Dixon average?
Got a guess?
Scroll to the bottom to see if you know your stuff!
🔼 Two-For-One Special. Following a 2-0 win over St. John's to open the BIG EAST slate, Morgan Kotch and Meredith Palmer were named the BIG EAST Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week.
This is the first Offensive Player of the Week nod for Kotch in her Wildcat career while Palmer picks up her third Defensive Player of the Week plaudit of the season and fourth in her career.
All-told this season, Villanova has received eight weekly awards from the league.
🔼 Roll Call. After helping the Villanova field hockey squad to a 4-1 victory over local rival Temple on Sunday, forward Ava Borkowski and back Molly Zimmerman were both selected to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll Team.
Zimmerman and Borkowski mark the 20th pair of Wildcats in program history to be selected to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll Team in the same week. The most recent pair was Borkowski and Gemma Lysaght last season on October 7.
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
*All times listed in ET
Wednesday, September 30th
🍓 Oakmont Farmers Market
⚽️ Women’s Soccer at Creighton @ 12 pm
Thursday, October 1st
🍄🟫 Scott Arboretum & Gardens: Accessible Mushroom Tour
Friday, October 2nd
🎶 Live Music at 118 North
🏑 Field Hockey vs. Georgetown @ 12 pm
⚽️ Men’s Soccer vs. UCONN @ 3 pm
🏐 Volleyball vs. Providence @ 6 pm
👟 Men’s Cross Country at Paul Short XC Run (Bethlehem, Pa.)
🎾 Women’s Tennis at Villanova Invitational
🎾 Men’s Tennis at Saint Joseph’s Invitational
Saturday, October 3rd
🌸 Tyler Arboretum: Saturday Wildflower Walk
🏈 Football vs. Morgan State @ 1 pm
⚽️ Women’s Soccer vs. Georgetown @ 4 pm
🏐 Volleyball vs. UCONN @ 7 pm
🎾 Women’s Tennis at Villanova Invitational
🎾 Men’s Tennis at Saint Joseph’s Invitational
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Answer: 14.3 ppg
Have a great one, Nova Nation!
