XU Gold Nuggets will visit Georgetown (Ky.) in opening round

Xavier qualified for the NAIA nationals for the second consecutive year. NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana will travel to Georgetown (Ky.) for the 2012 NAIA Volleyball National Championship Opening Round. Xavier (22-7) will play the Tigers (33-4) at 7:30 p.m. EST Saturday in Georgetown's Davis-Reid Alumni Gym.      The NAIA announced first-round pairings Monday. Xavier qualified for nationals for the second consecutive year and the second time overall by winning the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament on Saturday.  Georgetown, ranked 13th, earned at at-large bid after winning the Mid-South Conference regular season and losing in four sets to Lindsey Wilson in the Mid-South tourney championship match. It will be the Tigers' 15th appearance at nationals and first since 2009. "Georgetown has beaten three teams we played this season — Lee, Union (Ky.) and Lindsey Wilson — so that has our attention," said XU coach Christabell Hamilton, whose team lost to Lee and Lindsey Wilson and defeated Union in the season-opening Lee Invitational in August. "We're definitely the underdogs, and I like it that way."      Georgetown had a 25-match win streak from Aug. 25-Oct. 23.      The 12 winners of Saturday's opening-round matches will advance to the NAIA National Championship Final Site presented by CNOS. They'll meet up with the host school, Morningside, and the 11 top seeds for competition Nov. 27-Dec. 1 at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena in Sioux City, Iowa.      Xavier lost 25-13, 25-11, 25-21 at Spring Hill in the NAIA's 2011 opening round. By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director XULAATHLETICS XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA