Gold Nuggets set school record with ninth consecutive victory

Taylor Reuther

NEW ORLEANS -- Taylor Reuther had 16 kills and 17 digs, and Moira Kirk had 15 kills and six blocks Tuesday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana in a 26-24, 25-13, 21-25, 25-15 women's volleyball victory against Mobile.

The Gold Nuggets (15-7) set a school record with their ninth consecutive victory and defeated the Lady Rams (15-11) for the second time in three matches this season.

Reuther was one of three Nuggets with double-doubles. Chinedu Echebelem had 11 kills and 12 digs, and Franziska Pirkl had 43 assists and 13 digs. Claudia Haywood hit .563 with nine kills and a season-high six blocks, and CeCe Williiams had a season-best 17 digs.

Bailey Nations and Maegan Wilkins had 12 kills apiece for Mobile. Nicole Armstrong had 15 digs and Katy McCollister 14.

Kills by Kirk and Jodi Hill clinched the first set for Xavier after trailing 19-16. The Gold Nuggets hit .571 and got six kills in seven attacks from Kirk during the second set, and the Nuggets used a 9-1 run to take control of the fourth set. Pirkl's kill ended the match.

Xavier had a pair of eight-match win streaks in 2011 and tied that mark Saturday. The Gold Nuggets also extended their school-record home win streak to eight. They are 4-0 in their first season at the Convocation Center.

Reuther reached double figures in kills for the eighth consecutive match, a career best, and recorded her fourth straight double-double. Kirk reached double-figure kills for a season-best third consecutive time.

Xavier outhit Mobile .286 to .098 and had advantages of 59-47 in kills, 81-63 in digs and 13-6 in blocks. The Nuggets' block total was a season best. Mobile had a 6-2 advantage in aces, with Nations and Armstrong serving two apiece.

"We started off strong right away," XU coach Hannah Lawing said. "Our passers took care of the ball in serve receive, giving our middles the ability to side out quickly. Fran (Pirkl) made really great decisions with her sets, getting our hitters one-on-one with the block a lot.

"Our middles did an unbelievable job closing the block and keeping utmost pressure on Mobile's hitters. The team was very consistent with their energy and effort and really showed everyone tonight that they wanted that win."

Xavier will play Avila at 6 p.m. Friday at the Convocation Center as part of a two-site tournament hosted by Xavier and Loyola. Mobile will play Avila at 2 p.m. Friday at the Convocation Center.

Box Score

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