Thursday, September 19, 2013

Rencher serves up a Xavier comeback against Loyola

NEW ORLEANS -- Junior setter Alexandria Rencher served a career-high six aces, all in the final three sets, to help Xavier University of Louisiana rally for a 24-26, 25-16, 25-18, 25-12 women's volleyball victory against Loyola at the Convocation Center.

The Gold Nuggets (9-7) defeated the Wolf Pack (3-10) for the second time in as many matches this season -- they entered the season 0-11 against their city rival -- and won at home for the third time in five days in their new home facility, which opened to the public nearly 11 months ago.

Rencher opened the second and third sets with aces and served three more during a 6-0 run which gave Xavier a 14-8 third-set lead. Rencher also had 20 assists, two kills, four digs and two blocks.

Taylor Reuther hit .375 and had 15 kills and 11 digs for Xavier. Chinedu Echebelem had 11 kills, three aces and 13 digs, and Moira Kirk hit .391 with 11 kills and three blocks. Jodi Hill and Claudia Haywood had six kills apiece. Jodi Chatters hads 12 digs, and Franziska Pirkl -- who split setting duties with Rencher -- had 24 assists.

Sabrina Stansberry and Katie Hamilton had nine kills apiece for Loyola. Katie Broadbent had six kills and four blocks, Eva Allen had six kills, and Becca Burnett had 19 digs.

Four kills and four unforced errors helped the Wolf Pack win the first set after Xavier led 19-13. But the Gold Nuggets outscored Loyola 8-1 to close the second set, 7-2 to end the third, then got four kills from Reuther and two from Hill during an early 13-1 fourth-set run which gave them a 14-4 advantage.

It was the fourth time this season that Xavier won after dropping the first set. The Gold Nuggets have won seven in a row at home since Loyola swept them nearly a year ago at The Barn, Xavier's former home facility.

Xavier outhit Loyola .280 to .098 and had advantages of 53-36 in kills, 11-3 in aces and 59-52 in digs.

The Gold Nuggets will travel to the University of Mobile for a 4 p.m. Saturday match. Xavier's next Gulf Coast Athletic Conference match will be Sept. 28 at Edward Waters, and the next home matches will be Oct. 5 at 1 p.m. against Dillard and at 4 p.m. against St. Thomas (Texas).

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

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