Nuggets sweep Edward Waters Lady Tigers to start GCAC 2nd round

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Juliana Tomasoni and Vivica Price-Spraggins both hit better than .500, and Adili Rikondja and Eva Le Guillou both produced career highs to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 25-13, 25-19, 25-10 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference volleyball victory Saturday against Edward Waters.

The Gold Nuggets (15-2, 7-0) maintained their two-match lead in the GCAC loss column against Tougaloo and Dillard. XULA has won five straight and 14 of their last 15 matches.

Tomasoni hit .517 with no errors in 29 attacks and notched her 10th double-double this season — 15 kills and 11 digs, both team highs. Price-Spraggins hit .533 in 15 attacks and had 10 kills to reach double figures for the first time in 11 matches. Rikondja had a career-high five blocks — she had none the previous two matches — and Le Guillou had a career-best 25 assists.

Rikondja and Lauryn Taylor had seven kills apiece. Tiffany Phillips had 14 assists, Taylor had four blocks, and Anna Dalla Vecchia had nine digs.

XULA had a 7-1 advantage in aces. Le Guillou tied her career high with three aces, and Tomasoni and Kayla Black served two apiece.

XULA never trailed in any set. There were five total ties, three in the middle set (3, 4 and 5) and the latest at 7 in the third. Le Guillou served all her aces during a 10-0 run that gave the Gold Nuggets a 17-7 lead in the third. XULA closed the match with a 17-3 run.

XULA hit .320 — 43 kills and 11 errors in 100 attacks — and had 40 digs and six team blocks.
The match was the 300th in XULA's 10 seasons. All-time the Gold Nuggets are 171-129 — 141-56 from 2011 to the present (seven seasons).

The Gold Nuggets returned to XULA late Saturday evening but will be back on a bus next week for GCAC matches at Tougaloo on Monday, Philander Smith on Tuesday and Talladega on Saturday. XULA seeks its seventh consecutive GCAC regular-season championship.

Tougaloo, the GCAC's second-place team at 7-2, has won 12 of its last 14 matches, including all six in conference, since its 25-10, 25-20, 25-11 loss Sept. 9 at XULA.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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