NEW ORLEANS — The second-week schedule of the Xavier University of Louisiana women's volleyball team has similarities to this past week.Once again the Gold Nuggets (2-2) will face an NAIA top-25 team and another receiving votes. But this time Xavier is on the road, competing in the Mariner Invitational at Brunswick, Ga.
Xavier will play Friday at 9 a.m. EDT against Bethel (Ind.) (4-2) and 1 p.m. against 20th-ranked Coastal Georgia (5-1), the host team. The Gold Nuggets will play Saturday at 9 a.m. EDT against Martin Methodist (0-5) and 5 p.m. against Bryan (1-4), which received votes in the preseason coaches poll.
Xavier split four matches in its Big Easy Blastoff, sandwiching victories against Faulkner and NCAA Division I's Mississippi Valley State around losses to NAIA No. 19 Wayland Baptist and vote-receiving Mobile.
"Our serve-receive and defense were our strong points last week," XU coach Hannah Lawing said. "We'll be better in those areas than we were last season. Our offense will get better."
Xavier ranks eighth in the NAIA with 19.46 digs per set, 13th with 12.62 assists per set and 16th with 13.69 kills per set. Two XU seniors are ranked — Franziska Pirkl is seventh with 11.15 assists per set, and Darian Harris is 33rd with 5.00 digs per set. Pirkl (setter) and Harris (defender) are two of the three reigning Gulf Coast Athletic Conference players of the week.
All but Martin Methodist will be first-time XU opponents. The Gold Nuggets are 0-3 all-time against Martin Methodist but has not played the RedHawks since 2010.
Xavier will open its GCAC schedule at 7 p.m. Monday against Talladega at the Convocation Center.
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment