Volleyball Takes on Marquette in BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals

Friday, November 25

Indianapolis, Ind.

3:05 p.m.

Xavier University

No. 2 Marquette

Volleyball Takes on Marquette in BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals

11.24.16 | Volleyball

Watch Live - BEDN Live Stats Marquette Notes BIG EAST Notes Xavier Notes

Match time is slated for 3 p.m. on Friday from Hinkle Fieldhouse

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – No. 2 seed Xavier volleyball will face No. 3 seed Marquette in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Tournament on Friday, Nov. 25. The four-team tournament is being hosted by Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Friday, Nov. 25
Semifinals
No. 1 seed Creighton vs. No. 4 seed Seton Hall at 12:30 p.m. (BEDN)
No. 2 seed Marquette vs. No. 3 seed Xavier at 3 p.m. (BEDN)

Saturday, Nov. 26
Championship
Winners of the Semifinals at 2:30 p.m. (FS2)

THE MATCHUP VS MARQUETTE

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (19-12, 13-5) vs MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES (23-7, 13-5)
Match Info: Friday, Nov. 25 - 3 p.m. - Indianapolis, Ind. (Hinkle Fieldhouse)
Live Stats: http://bit.ly/2ge1mrc
Watch Live - BEDN: http://bit.ly/2fOlhwc

ABOUT MARQUETTE

2016 Record: 23-7 (13-5 BIG EAST)
Series History: Xavier trails, 10-8

NOTABLES
• For the first time in program history, Marquette had four players selected to the All-BIG EAST First Team, including Allie Barber who was named Co-Freshman of the Year. Redshirt senior Meghan Niemann earned her fourth consecutive all-conference honor, while redshirt sophomore Taylor Louis earned her second straight unanimous pick. Classmate Jenna Rosenthal earned her first all-conference award.
• The Golden Eagles are looking for their second-ever championship crown after claiming the title on their home court in 2013. Last season, MU fell in the semifinals to eventual-winner Creighton in a five-set match.

SERIES HISTORY

• Xavier trails the all-time series, 10-8. The two teams split the season series with the home team winning each match.

LAST MEETING: Xavier 3, Marquette 1 - Nov. 19, 2016 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
• The Musketeers' senior class of Abbey Bessler, Brooke Betts and Sofia Peterson combined to post 38 of the team's 65 kills. Bessler had a team-high 19 kills, while Peterson had 13 and Betts had six.
• Brooke Betts also posted a team-high .417 hitting percentage and had three blocks. Xavier held an 8-6 advantage in total team blocks with Alexis Newsome pacing the team with four.
• Kristen Massa rounded out the Xavier players with 10 or more kills with 12. Morgan Finn added nine with a .333 attack percentage.
• Meredith Klare posted a match-high 14 digs, while McKena Estes had 13. Estes also dished out 23 assists for her fourth double-double of the year.

BIG EAST FIRST TEAM HONOREES

• Seniors Abbey Bessler and Sofia Peterson were named to the All-BIG EAST First Team on Wednesday afternoon. The all-conference teams were voted on by the conference's 10 head coaches.

• Bessler earns first-team honors for the fourth consecutive season, becoming the first player in program history to earn first-team honors every year. The Hebron, Ky., native ranks third in the BIG EAST in kills (3.76 k/s) and fifth in points (4.18 p/s).

• The outside hitter has 11 double-doubles on the year and posted 10 or more kills in all but six matches this season. The 2015 BIG EAST Player of the Year earned conference weekly honor roll honors five times this fall and was tabbed player of the week on Aug. 29.

• Peterson earns all-conference honors for the second straight year as the right side picked up second-team honors a year ago. The Melbourne, Fla., native ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in hitting percentage (.340) and 17th in kills (2.69 k/s). She also ranks third on the team in blocks with 62.

BIG EAST TOURNAMENT HISTORY

Year	Matchup	Result
2015	No. 3 Xavier vs No. 2 Villanova - Semifinals	L, 3-0
2014	No. 4 Xavier vs No. 1 Creighton - Semifinals	L, 3-1
2013	No. 3 Xavier vs No. 2 Creighton - Semifinals	L, 3-1

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

• The Musketeers have won two conference titles, coming in 1984 (North Star Conference) and 2001 (Atlantic 10). Xavier looks to advance to the NCAA Tournament this weekend for the third time in school history (2001, 2007).

BIG EAST WEEKLY HONORS

• Senior Abbey Bessler was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday afternoon for her on-court performance over the weekend. The outside hitter averaged 4.00 kills and 1.88 digs per set over two matches with a .301 hitting percentage. She totaled 32 kills, 15 digs, four blocks and one service ace.

BIG EAST Weekly Award Winners

Name	Award	Week
Abbey Bessler	Honor Roll	Nov. 21
Brooke Betts	Honor Roll	Nov. 14
Abbey Bessler	Honor Roll	Nov. 11
Abbey Bessler	Honor Roll	Nov. 7
Mackenzi Humm	Honor Roll	Oct. 27
Abbey Bessler	Honor Roll	Oct. 25
Sofia Peterson	Honor Roll	Oct. 17
Sofia Peterson	Honor Roll	Oct. 10
Abbey Bessler	Honor Roll	Sept. 26
Abbey Bessler	Player of the Week	Aug. 29

NOTABLES

• A win on Friday would give the Musketeers a 20-win season, their first 20-win season since 2013. Xavier has posted 20, 20-win seasons.

• Xavier went 1-1 against Marquette this season. Abbey Bessler led the Musketeers in those matches with 3.86 kills per set, while adding 2.57 digs per set. Sofia Peterson hit .400 against Marquette and added 3.71 kills per set.

• Abbey Bessler has averaged 4.00 kills per set and 3.07 digs per set in eight career matches against the Golden Eagles. Sofia Peterson has added 2.33 kills per set in seven career outings.

• Xavier has won 11 of its last 13 matches. The Musketeers have hit .261 in those games, while limiting its opponents to a .199 attack percentage. Xavier has also had 17 more service aces (63-46) and 40.5 more blocks (127-86.5).

• Xavier has posted 68.5 more total blocks (274.5-206) thank its opponents this season.

BIG EAST STATS: XU TOP-FIVE

Hitting Percentage

1.	Creighton	.279
2.	Marquette	.262
3.	Xavier	.245

Opponent Hitting Percentage

1.	Creighton	.279
2.	Marquette	.180
t-3.	Butler	.196
t-3.	St. John's	.196
5.	Xavier	.206

Assists (a/s)

1.	Creighton	13.57
2.	Villanova	12.82
3.	Xavier	12.82

Kills (k/s)

1.	Creighton	14.75
2.	Xavier	13.91

Blocks (b/s)

1.	St. John's	2.90
2.	Marquette	2.44
3.	Xavier	2.31

Individual Hitting Percentage

1.	Jasmine King, DePaul	.406
2.	Jenna Rosenthal, Marquette	.370
3.	Caitlyn Coffey, DePaul	.356
4.	Lauren Smith, Creighton	.353
t-2.	Sofia Peterson, XU	.347

Individual Kills (k/s)

1.	Taylor Louis, Marquette	4.45
2.	Anna Logan, Butler	4.41
3.	Abbey Bessler, XU	3.76

Individual Blocks (b/s)

1.	Danisha Moss, St. John's	1.46
2.	Jenna Rosenthal, Marquette	1.29
3.	*Alexis Newsome, XU*	*1.18*

Individual Points (p/s)

1.	Anna Logan, Butler	5.03
2.	Taylor Lewis, Marquette	4.97
3.	Brittany Maxwell, DePaul	4.29
4.	Allie Loitz, Villanova	4.25
5.	*Abbey Bessler, XU*	*4.18*

NCAA STATS

• Xavier ranks 12th in team kills (1,655) and 23rd in team assists (1,525).
• Individually, Alexis Newsome ranks 39th in total blocks (138) and Abbey Bessler ranks 51st in total kills (440).

CAREER RECORD WATCH: BESSLER

KILLS

Rank	Kills	Name	Years
1.	1,779	Sally Schulte	1993-96
2.	1,749	Abbey Bessler	2013-pres.

ATTACK ATTEMPTS

Rank	AA	Name	Years
1.	*5,029*	Abbey Bessler	2013-pres.

POINTS

Rank	Points	Name	Years
1.	1,979.5	Abbey Bessler	2013-pres.

DIGS

Rank	Points	Name	Years
4.	1,407	Jennifer Nunn	1989-92
5.	1,377	Abbey Bessler	2013-pres.

PRESEASON POLL

• The Musketeers were picked to finish third in the BIG EAST Preseason Poll as announced by the conference office on Aug. 3. The preseason poll and All-BIG EAST selections were voted on by the conference's 10 head coaches.

PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST

• Three Musketeers were selected to the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team in Abbey Bessler, Kristen Massa and Sofia Peterson. Xavier and Creighton were the only two teams with three players each on the preseason team.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• The Musketeers posted an 18-12 overall record last year, the team's 18th straight year with a .500 or above record.

• Xavier has posted a 51-19 record in BIG EAST play since joining the conference in 2013. The Musketeers have advanced to the conference tournament in all three seasons.

• Xavier players have earned AVCA All-American honors eight times in the last 11 years. Aubree Smith earned the honors last season, while Abbey Bessler picked up the recognition in 2013.