Gold Nuggets fall at Mobile in five sets

MOBILE, Alabama — Xavier University of Louisiana volleyball lost 11-25, 25-22, 25-19, 18-25, 15-13 Friday to Mobile in its opening match of the University of Mobile Invitational.
     
The Gold Nuggets (6-3) were to play St. Thomas (Texas) at 6 p.m. Friday, but that match was delayed due to the length of the first three matches.
     
Mirella Gatterdam had a match-high 17 kills for the Lady Rams (8-2), three in the final set. Gatterdam's final kill gave Mobile a 14-13 lead, and the match ended after a XULA attack error.
    
 XULA lost despite leads of 18-13 in the second set and 12-11 in the fifth. The Gold Nuggets sizzled in the first set, outhitting Mobile .393 to minus-.027 and holding the Lady Rams to their fewest points ever in a set against XULA. It also was the first time that XULA won the first set against Mobile in its Pharr Gym.
     
Mobile defeated XULA for the second time in eight days. The other victory was in three sets at the Nuggets' Big Easy Blastoff.

BOX SCORE
     
"Mobile is a good team. We had our moments of high-level play. We certainly had our opportunities to be successful," XULA coach Pat Kendrick said.
     
Kayla Black had 15 kills, 13 digs and four blocks for XULA but also hit .057 — the second straight match she hit less than .100. Vivica Price-Spraggins had 14 kills, six blocks and a career-high-tying two aces, Monet Fontaine had eight kills, and Eva Le Guillou had 41 assists and a career-best 15 digs. Beatrice Formilan had 20 digs and reached 20 for the third time this season.
     
Jordan Johnson had six kills and four blocks for XULA, and Adili Rikondja tied her career high with five blocks. Taylor Ducros had 12 digs.
     
Samantha Nichols and Carley Hamric had eight kills apiece for Mobile, and Nichols had three blocks. Avery Wasdin had 17 digs, and Gatterdam had 16.
     
XULA outhit Mobile .180 to .121 and had advantages of 58-48 in kills and 12-6 in blocks.
     
On Saturday the Gold Nuggets will play Life at 2 p.m. and William Carey at 4 p.m., then travel home.

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