Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Drake University
Volleyball Back on Track with 3-1 Win Over Drake
09.12.08 | Volleyball
Sept. 12, 2008
Box Score
AMES, Iowa - Three Musketeers turned in double-double's on the night as the Xavier volleyball team picked up a 3-1 (17-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-22) win over Drake University in its first match of the Iowa State Tournament Friday night. Freshman middle blocker Kathryn Traut tallied a career- and match-high five assisted blocks as XU halted a two-match skid with the victory over the Bulldogs.
Junior Hillary Otte posted a match-high 17 kills and juniors Lauren Kaminsky (12K, 16D) and Kelly Ruth (11K, 10D) were two Musketeers with two double-digit stats while sophomore Claire Paszkiewicz set 41 assists and got under 14 digs while serving up a career-high five aces and deflected a career-high three assisted blocks.
Xavier (5-2) got off to a slow start as Drake (7-2) was able to take the first frame by a considerable margin, 25-17. The frame started off relatively close and the two squads were knotted at nine apiece when DU went on a 7-2 run to hold the 16-11 lead. XU would not recover and the Bulldogs closed out the set with another run, scoring seven of the last nine points of the game.
The second set was a different story as the Musketeers jumped out to a quick 10-5 advantage after a service ace from Kaminsky. Xavier used a 7-0 run, including four consecutive service aces, to break open the set, going up 18-8, and Drake was forced to take its second timeout of the frame. Out of the break, the Bulldogs would get no closer than to within six as the Musketeers took the set, 25-17, to tie the match at two sets each.
In the third frame, XU again quickly took a five-point advantage at 9-4 but DU wasn't going quietly. The Bulldogs got to within one point, 11-10, after a kill from Mikayla Sims but the Musketeers rattled off three straight to extend their lead back to four. Drake would not recover as Xavier was able to claim the third-set victory, 25-18.
The deciding set was controlled by Drake for a majority of the frame as the Bulldogs were fighting to stay alive. DU led by as many as seven in set four but XU clawed its way back into the game as a kill from Kaminsky pulled the two even at 21-all. Xavier held match-point at 24-21 but a kill by Sims forced XU into a timeout. After taking a minute to strategize, the Musketeers' Otte slammed home the winning kill as Xavier took the set, 25-22, and the match, 3-1.
Xavier returns to action on Saturday as it is set to play a doubleheader on day two of the Iowa State Tournament. The Musketeers will play Iowa at 11 am and will face host Iowa State in the nightcap at 7:30 pm. You can follow the action with live stats by clicking here.
