Third-ranked Lee hits the jackpot, defeats Xavier Nuggets in 3

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CLEVELAND, Tennessee — Irene Ojukwu and Marija Zelenovic, both honorable-mention NAIA All-Americans a year ago, combined for 29 kills Friday to lead third-ranked Lee (Tenn.) to a 25-14, 25-16, 25-16 women's volleyball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana in the Lee Invitational.

The Lady Flames (1-1) had a .506 hitting percentage — the best against the Gold Nuggets since Xavier reinstated its program in 2010 — to rebound from a five-set loss to ninth-ranked Indiana Wesleyan earlier in the day. Ojukwu had 16 kills — six in as many attempts in the opening set — and hit .667. Zelenovic, the 2011 Southern States Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, had 13 kills and hit .524.

Taylor Reuther and Chinedu Echebelem had six kills apiece, and freshman CeCe Williams had five in her collegiate debut for the Gold Nuggets (0-2), who dropped their second straight against a ranked opponent. No. 20 Lindsey Wilson swept Xavier earlier in the day. The Nuggets never lost consecutive matches in 2011.

Lee overcame deficits of 8-5 in the second set and 8-6 in the third to win for the 108th time in its last 117 matches. The Lady Flames were an NAIA national semifinalist each of the past three seasons.

Moira Kirk, the 2011 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, finished with no kills for the first time at Xavier. She led the Nuggets with three blocks.

Lee limited Xavier to a .136 hitting percentage and had advantages of 52-22 in kills, 27-20 in digs and 9-2 in aces.

Xavier will play Union (Ky.) in the Nuggets' final match of the tournament at 3 p.m. EDT Saturday. Union, the defending Appalachian Athletic Conference regular-season champion, lost in five sets Friday to Olivet Nazarene.

Box score

By Ed Cassiere, SID
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