Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Bradley
Xavier Netters Open 2007 with Win Over Bradley
08.24.07 | Volleyball
Aug. 24, 2007
Box Score - Click Here for Live Stats
Toledo, Ohio - The Xavier volleyball team opened the 2007 season with an impressive 3-0 win over Bradley at the Rocket Volleyball Classic hosted by Toledo. Senior Jill Quayle and junior Jenn Welsh helped lead the Blue and White to its fifth-straight season-opening victory as XU moves to 1-0 on the season and Bradley falls to 0-2.
The Musketeers took the opening game by a score of 30-20. After a XU and BU traded points back and forth to start the contest, Xavier jumped ahead 13-9 resulting in a timeout called by the Braves. The Musketeers exploded with an 11-4 run to take a 24-13 advantage before putting away the Braves by a final margin of 10. Sophomore Kelly Ruth led the Blue and White with five kills while Welsh dished out 13 assists in the contest.
Bradley answered back to start the second game, taking an early 3-1 lead. The Braves led by as many as six points, 18-12, but the Musketeers would not give in. XU tied the game up at 23 apiece on a kill by Quayle, the first tie of the game. Xavier would take its first lead three points later as Welsh collected a service ace, putting the Musketeers up by one, 26-25. Bradley continued to battle but Xavier wrapped up the second game with a 4-3 run and took a two-game advantage with the 30-28 win.
The third game was hard fought for the Musketeers as the Braves kept the contest close. After Xavier collected an 11-10 on a ball handling error by a Bradley netter, it would not relinquish the advantage. A subsequent 6-2 run by the Musketeers forced the Braves to take a timeout but within five points would be as close as Bradley would get. The Blue and White clinched the game, and the match, after a 7-1 run to close the contest was capped off by a kill from Quayle.
Welsh picked up where she left off last season in the assist column, dishing out 32 assists on the day while Quayle led the team in blocks (7) and was second in kills (8). Ruth was the team leader in kills, collecting 11 over the three-game match and was second in total blocks (5). Sophomore Lauren Kaminsky led the team with 15 digs and added five kills and three blocks while freshman Katie Russell had six kills and 10 digs in her collegiate debut.
Xavier returns to the court later this evening as they are set to face host Toledo at 7:30 p.m. For the latest results, statistics and live updates from the tournament continue to check www.GOXAVIER.com.
