Saturday, September 24, 2011

XU wins again in first of three GCAC matches at Talladega

TALLADEGA, Ala. — Taylor Reuther had 17 kills Friday, and Chinedu Echebelem and Moira Kirk had 12 apiece to lead Xavier UniversIty of Louisiana in a 25-19, 25-11, 25-16 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's volleyball victory against Talladega.

The Gold Nuggets (7-2 overall, 2-0 GCAC) extended their school-record win streak to six in a row.

Reuther had seven kills and nine digs during a first set in which Xavier rallied from a 6-2 deficit. A Reuther kill put the Nuggets ahead to stay at 13-12, and she scored Xavier's final three points of the set with kills.

Xavier led 18-7 in the second set and 17-7 in the third. Kirk and Echebelem closed the match with free-ball kills.

Reuther hit 417 and finished with 14 digs in her fifth kill-dig double-double of the season — Xavier recorded just three in 37 matches in 2010 — and her third in a row. Celeste Poe had 12 digs to reach double digures for the fifth time this season.

Shalitha Swain led Talladega (5-7, 0-1) with six kills. Xavier had 46 kills, twice as many as the Lady Tornadoes, and hit .238 with six aces. Jeanay Butler, who entered the match with one ace this season, served a season-best three aces for the Nuggets.

Kerris Crier led Xavier with four blocks — her fifth consecutive match with three or more — and Kirk and Butler had three apiece.

Talladega is playing host to 13 GCAC matches Friday and Saturday involving six of the league's eight members. Xavier will play Edward Waters at 5 p.m. Friday, then return home after an 8 a.m. Saturday match against Fisk.

NOTES: Xavier has swept five of six opponents during its win streak . . . Reuther recorded her fourth straight match with 10 or more digs and leads Xavier with six . . . Reuther's 17 kills are the most by a Nugget in a three-set match since Xavier reinstated volleyball in 2010. Reuther had 20 kills in the Nuggets' other GCAC match, a five-set home victory against SUNO this past Saturday.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
VISIT: GCAC

No comments: