NEW ORLEANS — Freshmen Taylor Reuther, Chinedu Echebelem and Moira Kirk combined for 31 kills Monday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 25-20, 25-22, 25-22 women's volleyball victory against Southern at The Barn.
The Gold Nuggets (6-2) extended their school-record win streak to five and tied another XU mark with their fifth home victory of the season. Xavier is 3-0 against SWAC opponents and unbeaten at home.
Reuther had 12 kills — her team-leading sixth match of the season in double figures — Echebelem had 11, and Kirk had eight. Reuther also had two aces and a season-high-tying 17 digs in her fourth kill-dig double-double. Echebelem had a season-best .385 attack percentage with just one error in 26 attempts.
Ja'Quincia Willliams had 13 kills for Southern (3-11), and Beonka Savoy and Amber Shelby had seven apiece. Savoy and Kirsten Buggage had 10 digs apiece, and Payton Mitchell had five blocks.
Xavier rallied from deficits of 15-12 in the first set, 12-5 in the second set and 5-1 in the third. Kills by Kerris Crier, Jeanay Butler and Reuther ended the sets.
Xavier used a 7-1 first-set run which included three consecutive Southern attack errors to take the lead for good at 19-16. The Gold Nuggets never led in the second set until a Williams attack error gave them a 19-18 advantage. The Lady Jaguars tied the set at 22, but Kirk's kill put Xavier ahead to stay.
Four Southern attack errors fueled an 8-1 Xavier run in the final set which put the Nuggets ahead to stay at 9-6. Blocks by Williams and Chanda Journet against Reuther closed Xavier's lead to 21-20, but a Kirk kill and two straight Southern attack errors moved the Nuggets to match point.
Xavier outhit Southern .275 to .189 and had advantages of 43-37 in kills and 5-1 in aces. The Lady Jaguars committed 29 total errors, one more than Xavier.
It was the first match between the teams. They'll meet again at 7:30 p.m. next Monday in Baton Rouge. But before then Xavier will travel to Talladega, Ala., for three Gulf Coast Athletic Conference matches. The Nuggets will play Friday against Talladega at 1 p.m. and Edward Waters at 5 p.m., then play Fisk at 8 a.m. Saturday.
Box score
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
VISIT: GULF COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
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