MOBILE, Alabama -- Xavier University of Louisiana lost 25-14, 19-25, 19-25, 26-24, 15-6 Saturday to 23rd-ranked Spring Hill in an opening-round match of the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship.The Badgers (36-3) extended their win streak to 28 and ended the season of the Gold Nuggets (26-8), who entered with a school-record 20-match win streak.
Chinedu Echebelem had 20 kills, a career high, and 12 digs for Xavier. Moira Kirk had eight kills and seven blocks, and Taylor Reuther had eight kills and a career-high-tying 25 digs.
Also recording a double-double for Xavier was Franziska Pirkl with 44 assists and 12 digs. Claudia Haywood had seven kills and four blocks.
Megan Haber had 14 kills and eight blocks for Spring Hill, and Sha Sha Buchanan and Madison Seuzeneau had 11 kills apiece.
Spring Hill rallied from deficits of 15-8, 19-15 and 22-20 in the fourth set, then pulled away in the final set after a tie at 5.
Xavier lost in the opening round at nationals for the third consecutive year and for the second time in three years to Spring Hill. The Gold Nuggets finished with a school-record victory total and won their third consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships.
Spring Hill advanced with 23 other teams to pool play at nationals beginning Dec. 3 at Sioux City, Iowa.
BY ED CASSIERE, SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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