NEW ORLEANS -- The NAIA confirmed it Monday: Xavier University of Louisiana has the association's longest active conference win streak in women's volleyball.
The Gold Nuggets will put that 51-match win streak -- ninth longest in NAIA history -- on the line Tuesday when longtime city and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference rival Dillard visits. Starting time will be 7 p.m. at XU's Convocation Center, and admission is free.
Columbia (Mo.) holds the NAIA record of 159 consecutive regular-season conference victories and also shares ninth place with Xavier. Next on the list for Xavier to catch are Taylor (Ind.), which won 53 in a row, and Northwestern (Iowa) at 58.
The NAIA's win-streak list does not include conference tournaments. Xavier has won 62 straight against GCAC opponents, regular season and tournament, since a five-set loss to SUNO in the semifinals of the GCAC Tournament on Nov. 13, 2010.
Xavier, 7-4 this season and 3-0 in the GCAC, has won five straight overall. Third-year coach Hannah Lawing said focus and unity have been the keys to success.
"We are making a lot of progress," said Lawing, who is 34-0 against GCAC opponents, 29-0 in the regular season. "We have a lot of depth, and our practices have gotten more intense. We have people competing at each position for starting spots, and it's fun to watch.
"This group has figured out the balance between being all-business on the court while playing loose and not getting uptight. That was something our team last year struggled with."
Xavier is the only GCAC team with five players with 70 or more kills. CeCe Williams has 87, Taylor Reuther 81, Claudia Haywood 75, Ruby Hunt-Thompson 71 and Jodi Hill 70. Hunt-Thompson is a freshman, and the other four are seniors.
Chelsea Wilkinson has 65 kills and Ty Howard 53 for Dillard (2-9, 1-0), and Demetria Horton has 154 digs. The Lady Bleu Devils won 2-of-3 matches after losing their first eight and won 25-12, 25-16, 25-11 at home against Tougaloo in their GCAC opener Friday. Xavier beat Tougaloo 25-7, 25-9, 25-16 at home Saturday.
The Gold Nuggets were 2-0 a year ago against Dillard, winning 25-18, 25-16, 25-10 at home and 25-23, 25-21, 25-17 at DU.
Xavier will visit its other GCAC city rival, SUNO, at 6 p.m. Friday.
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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