Gold Nuggets need less than an hour to defeat Tougaloo

NEW ORLEANS -- Moira Kirk hit .625 and had 11 kills, and Franziska Pirkl served a season-high three aces Wednesday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana in a 25-6, 25-16, 25-13 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's volleyball victory against Tougaloo.

The Gold Nuggets (19-7, 8-0) extended their school-record win streak to 13 and reduced their magic number to three for clinching a third consecutive GCAC regular-season championship.

Xavier won in 51 minutes -- the sixth time during the streak that the Nuggets finished in less than an hour. They became the first XU team to win seven in a row at home in one season. Their overall home win streak is 11.

Kirk had seven kills in nine attacks, and Pirkl served two aces in the first set. Kirk did not play in the third set.

Claudia Haywood had seven kills and two blocks for Xavier. Jodi Hill had six kills and a block. Pirkl had four kills in as many attacks, 26 assists and a block. CeCe Williams had eight digs to lead the Nuggets for the second consecutive match, and Alexandria Rencher had two aces and 10 assists.

Briana Murphy had six kills and a block for Tougaloo (2-15, 2-7), which has dropped six straight.

Xavier led 9-1 in the first set, 6-0 in the second and 8-1 in the third.

Xavier outhit Tougaloo .361 to minus-.020 and had advantages of 42-9 in kills and 8-0 in aces.

The teams will meet again at 1 p.m. Saturday at Tougaloo. Xavier's next home match will start at 7 p.m. Monday against Philander Smith.


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