GCAC-leading Nuggets earn third victory in four days

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana concluded a three-match volleyball home stand against Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opponents with a 25-14, 25-15, 25-20 victory Sunday against Edward Waters.
     
Nine players had multiple kills for the Gold Nuggets (10-13, 7-0), and setter Ralitsa Slanchev posted career highs of 35 assists and two blocks.
     
XULA closed the first set with an 11-1 run, seized momentum early in the second set with a 10-2 run, then ended the match after a late 6-1 surge.
     
Leading the Gold Nuggets' attackers were Adili Rikondja and Juliana Tomasoni with seven kills apiece. Rikondja hit a career-best .500 in 12 attacks, and Tomasoni, who sat out the final two sets, hit .545 in 11 attempts.
     
Brittanie Cockrell had a career-best six kills, and Kaelan Temple had a career-high-tying five kills for the second consecutive match. Temple also had 12 digs, reaching double figures for the seventh time this season and the third time in her last four matches.
     
Slanchev, a senior filling in for freshman starter Tiffany Phillips, also had seven digs and season highs of three aces and three kills.
     
Larissa Pereira had eight kills for Edward Waters (7-7, 2-6), and Kayla Morales had 19 digs.
    
 XULA outhit the Lady Tigers .192 to minus-.018 — the lowest percentage by a XULA opponent this season — and had advantages of 42-19 in kills, 5-3 in aces and 66-50 in digs. Pereira entered as the NAIA leader in aces per set, but she produced no aces and two errors in 10 serves. Amanda Perry led XULA with 16 digs and reached double figures for the 21st time in 23 matches this season.
     
Edward Waters finished with a negative hitting percentage for the third time in as many Convocation Center appearances. All seven of the Gold Nuggets' conference opponents this season have hit less than 100.
    
It was the 150th victory in XULA's nine seasons of intercollegiate volleyball and the 75th for fourth-year coach Hannah Lawing.
     
The Gold Nuggets also defeated SUNO BOTalladega in the home stand. After a 1 p.m. Saturday match at Philander Smith, XULA's next home match will start at 6 p.m. Oct. 13 against city and GCAC rival Dillard.

BOX SCORE

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