Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Gold Nuggets, on road, win GCAC volleyball opener

TOUGALOO, Mississippi -- Juliana Tomasoni and Adili Rikondja combined for 28 kills and a .393 hitting percentage Tuesday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 23-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-17 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference volleyball victory against Tougaloo.

The Gold Nuggets (4-10, 1-0) have won 73 of their last 74 matches against GCAC opponents. In regular-season GCAC matches, XULA has won 60 of its last 61.

Tomasoni produced 15 kills and 13 digs -- her seventh double-double of the season -- and hit .353. Rikondja hit .455 with a career-high 13 kills. Hasani Salaam had eight kills, and Monet Fontaine had seven.

Amanda Perry had 22 digs and extended to 13 her XULA record for consecutive double-figure matches. Taylor Ducros had 14 digs, and Ralitsa Slanchev produced a career-high 10. Ducros, Slanchev and Cara Ford served two aces apiece.

After dropping an opening set against Tougaloo for the first time, XULA trailed just twice more thereafter -- at 1-0 in the second set and 2-1 in the third. The Gold Nuggets had 7-0 runs in the second and third sets and an 8-0 burst in the final set to grab a 12-1 lead.

XULA outhit Tougaloo .205 to .070 -- the Gold Nuggets hit .252 the final three sets -- and had advantages of 59-27 in kills and 84-58 in digs. The Gold Nuggets' kill total was a season high.

Jessica Porter had eight kills, nine digs and two aces for the Lady Bulldogs (6-3, 2-1), who dropped their home opener.

The Gold Nuggets are 13-0 all-time against Tougaloo. The teams will meet again Halloween evening at XULA.

XULA will travel to Jacksonville, Fla., to play GCAC opponent Edward Waters at noon EDT Saturday. The Gold Nuggets' next home match will start at 5 p.m. Monday against the GCAC's Philander Smith.

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