Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Duquesne
Brightwell and Duchek Lead Xavier by Duquesne
10.15.05 | Volleyball
Oct. 15, 2005
CINCINNATI - Seniors Jordan Brightwell and Kate Duchek each moved up in the Xavier record books with match-high performances and helped Xavier defeat visiting Duquesne 3-1 in Atlantic 10 action on Saturday afternoon at Cintas Center. The Musketeers took the match with scores of 25-30, 30-25, 30-24 and 30-27. XU is now 14-7 on the year and improves to 6-1 in A-10 play, while Duquesne falls to 11-9 and 3-4 in conference action.
Xavier started slow for the second match in a row and fell in the first game. With the score at 11-11, the Dukes mounted an 8-2 run to pull in front 19-13. XU would charge back to tie the score at 19-19 and again at 22-22, but DU was too much in the end and scored eight of the last 11 points of the game. Duchek had six kills to lead the way, while setter Jenn Welsh dished out 14 assists in the stanza.
In the second game, nine ties and six lead changes eventually found the Musketeers grab the momentum going into the locker room at the break. The last tie would come at 15-15 and be followed by a key 7-1 run by XU to pull ahead for good, 22-16. The stretch saw two kills by junior Astyn Bjorklund with Duchek adding one as the senior finished with seven on the game. Brightwell would pick up eight digs with Welsh adding seven and 16 assists on the game.
The third game found Xavier jump out on top from the very first point and never look back. The Musketeers would not trail in the match and held the largest margin of nine with the score 20-11. Danielle Skrajewski would power the XU offense with five kills, while Bjorklund and Jill Quayle added four apiece. Brightwell would tally seven more digs during the game.
The final game found XU total 23 kills compared to only 13 by the visitors en route to the victory and the match. Welsh assisted on 19 of the 23 kills with Duchek and Skrajewski each notching six kills. Brightwell again led the XU backline with six digs, while Bjorklund had a huge presence at the net with one solo block and three block assists.
Duchek and Brightwell each posted match-highs with 21 kills and 26 digs, respectively. Duchek finished the afternoon by adding seven digs and four block assists and is now currently in 7th place all-time for kills in a career with 1,336. Brightwell led XU in digs for the 12th time this season and is now in sole possession of second place all-time for digs in a career with 1,456. Skrajewski recorded her second double-double of the weekend and 29th of her career as the sophomore posted 18 kills and 11 digs on the day. Astyn Bjorklund and Jill Quayle each had 14 kills and five block assists with Bjorklund adding a solo block to round out the Musketeers in double-digit kills. Welsh just missed her career high of 65 assists as the freshman finished by dishing out 63 on the match to go along with 16 digs and three aces. Junior Erica Kaczorowski tallied 10 or more digs for the second night in a row and finished with exactly 10.
Xavier will have the week off before traveling to Philadelphia next weekend to take on A-10 foes Temple and La Salle. The Musketeers will tangle with the Owls at 7:00 pm on Friday night and follow up with a meeting against the Explorers on Saturday afternoon at 4:00 pm. Catch the action on Gametracker at www.GOXAVIER.com.
