Nuggets beat EWC for 6th straight home victory

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana hit a season-high and Convocation Center-record .451 and defeated Edward Waters 25-10, 25-9, 25-11 in volleyball Thursday.
     
The Gold Nuggets (10-7, 5-1 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) won their sixth in a row at home and their second straight overall. They have 28 consecutive home victories against GCAC opponents, 26 during the regular season.
     
XU freshman Sarah Pitts-Groce had a career-high nine kills and her first two aces of the season. She produced kills on her first four swings and finished with a .533 percentage in 15 attacks.
     
Xavier's attack percentage broke its previous facility mark of .446 against Voorhees on Sept. 29, 2014. This is the Gold Nuggets' third season at the Convocation Center, where they've won 28-of-33 matches.
     
Also serving a career-best two aces were Patricia Young Yen and Ruby Hunt-Thompson. Young Yen, who was celebrating her birthday, also had five kills.
     
Jada Broussard had eight kills for Xavier. Darian Harris had 10 digs — the 12th time this season she reached double figures — and Kaelan Temple had a career-high nine. Jodi Hill had four blocks, giving her 21 in the last five matches.
    
 Larissa Pereira had four kills for Edward Waters (6-12, 0-4), and Kaylin Davison had nine digs and two aces.
     
Xavier scored 26-of-29 points in a run which started midway through the second set. Xavier scored 14 consecutive points, two on Hunt-Thompson aces, to take a 14-1 lead in the third.
     
Xavier limited the Lady Tigers to minus-.141 hitting and had advantages of 44-8 in kills and 38-24 in digs. The Gold Nuggets served a season-high 10 aces, and seven players served at least one.
     
Xavier will conclude its home stand with a 1 p.m. Saturday GCAC match against Philander Smith at the Convocation Center. It will be the Gold Nuggets' Dig Pink match for breast cancer awareness, and fans are encouraged to wear pink. Admission is free.

BOX SCORE

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