Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
East Tennessee State
Skrajewski Leads Xavier to Tourney Championship
09.16.06 | Volleyball
Sept. 16, 2006
CONWAY, S.C. - After having one of the best statistical matches this season, Xavier followed with a sweep of East Tennessee State University in the championship match of the Microtel Inn and Suites CCU Volleyball Classic on the campus of Coastal Carolina University. XU senior Danielle Skrajewski was named the tournament MVP and helped the Musketeers take the match with scores of 30-27, 30-18 and 32-30 as the Musketeers finished the weekend with a 3-0 record. The Blue and White improve to 6-7 on the season, while the Lady Buccaneers fall to 9-5 overall.
In the opening game, ETSU jumped out to the quick 4-0 lead before XU could get on the board. The Musketeers would persevere and regain the lead 11-10 after a kill by Kelly Ruth. The Lady Buccaneers would respond and knot the score at 23-23 before taking the lead on the next point. East Tennessee State would extend the lead to 25-23 before Xavier would rattle off the next five points to take the lead for good. As a team, XU posted 22 kills on 51 swings for a .392 hitting percentage.
The second game was much like the first as XU committed only two hitting errors en route to another 22 kills on 44 swings and a .455 hitting percentage. Jill Quayle posted six kills on the game to lead the way offensively, while Lauren Kaminsky added five digs.
The final game of the match was a battle to the end as 15 ties and 15 lead changes kept everyone in suspense until the end. It was a kill by Quayle that ended all hopes of a fourth game as the junior pounded home the match-winner.
The series between the two schools now stands even at 1-1 after the XU win.
Senior Danielle Skrajewski ended with a team-high 16 kills and 11 digs for her 40th career double double and her second of the weekend. Quayle also tied for team-high honors with 16 kills and added three block assists. Freshmen Ruth and Lauren Kaminsky rounded out the Musketeers with 10 or more kills as they posted 14 and 13 kills and nine and seven digs, respectively. Jenni Horvath finished with nine digs on the afternoon and added a team-high three block assists. Setter Jenn Welsh dished out 53 assists on the match to go along with two kills and seven digs.
Skrajewski was named the MVP as the senior finished with 48 kills and 29 digs on the weekend. Teammates Jill Quayle and Lauren Kaminsky were also honored on the all-tournament team for their fine play on the weekend.
The Musketeers will have the next week off before opening the Atlantic 10 schedule on the road. Xavier will depart for the east coast to take on Charlotte this coming Friday at 7:00 pm before rounding out the weekend in Washington, D.C. against George Washington on Sunday at noon. The two matches will be the 10th and 11th matches away from Cintas Center as XU has been on the road throughout the month of September.
