XU Gold Nuggets hit .359, dominate Dillard at home

Gold Nuggets hit .359, dominate Dillard at home

NEW ORLEANS — Taylor Reuther hit a season-high .556 with 11 kills and 14 digs Tuesday, leading Xavier University of Louisiana in a 25-16, 25-11, 25-15 victory against city rival Dillard.
    
The Gold Nuggets (8-4, 4-0 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) won for the sixth straight time. They extended their streak of consecutive regular-season conference victories to 52, the longest active streak in NAIA women's volleyball and ninth-longest all-time. Xavier has won 63 straight — including conference tournaments — against GCAC opponents and 62 in a row against HBCUs.
     
The attendance of 511 was Xavier's largest for a home match since it revived its program in 2010. This is the Gold Nuggets' third season in the Convocation Center.
     
Reuther, a senior and a three-time first-team All-GCAC outside hitter, had five kills and six digs in the first set en route to her fourth double-double of the season. She reached double figures in kills for the fourth time this season and in digs for the seventh time.

Happy birthday to @_ ClaudiaAnn, the 2015
@ gulfcoastaconf Preseason Co-Player of the Year.

    
Claudia Haywood had a season-high-tying nine kills for Xavier, and freshman Ruby Hunt-Thompsonhad nine kills and hit a season-best .692. Darian Harris had 13 digs, and CeCe Williams had 12.Franziska Pirkl had 27 assists, all in the first two sets, and Ralitsa Hadzhistoyanova had 10 — the fourth consecutive match and the fifth time in six matches that both reached double figures. Freshman Sarah Pitts-Groce had a season-high three blocks.
    
Chelsea Wilkinson had five kills for Dillard (2-10, 1-1). Demetria Horton had 14 digs, and Maya Lealaimatafao had three blocks.

Xavier led 17-7 in the first set and 19-7 in the second. A Kayla Jones ace ended the match.
     
The Gold Nuggets allowed their fewest-ever points to the Lady Bleu Devils. Xavier hit .359 — the fourth consecutive match it reached a season high — and limited Dillard to .009. Xavier had advantages of 46-20 in kills and 59-45 in digs.
     
Xavier defeated Dillard for the 12th consecutive time and leads the series 12-7. They'll meet again Nov. 9 at Dillard's Dent Hall to close the regular season.
     
Next for the Gold Nuggets will be a 6 p.m. Friday GCAC match at another city rival, SUNO.

Box Score

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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