Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Evansville
Volleyball Downs Purple Aces, 3-0
08.31.07 | Volleyball
Aug. 31, 2007
Stats
Cincinnati - The Xavier volleyball team won its 10th straight game as it swept the Evansville Purple Aces, 3-0, on the first day of the Aussie Xavier Invitational presented by the Vernon Manor Hotel. The Musketeers (6-0) are off to their best start since the 2001 NCAA Tournament participant squad opened the season 7-0. The Purple Aces fall to 2-3 on the young season.
Seniors Jenni Horvath and Jill Quayle come up big again for the Blue and White as Horvath posted a double-double (15 kills, 14 digs) and Quayle had 12 kills and five total blocks (2 BS, 3 BA).
Game one was never in doubt for the Musketeers as Xavier lead the entire frame. After jumping out to an 8-4 lead, XU went on a 10-1 run to push its lead to 13. Back-to-back Musketeer kills caused the Purple Aces to call a timeout at 23-12 and out of the break Xavier smashed two more. The last point of the game was scored off an assisted block by sophomore Kelly Ruth and freshman Katie Russell to put the final score of the frame at 30-16.
Evansville kept the second game close until consecutive kills by Horvath and Ruth forced the Purple Aces to take a minute to talk it over. Out of the timeout, XU took a 7-3 run right into six point lead, 21-15, courtesy of two kills by Quayle. The Musketeers closed the game with a 9-4 run to take the frame, 30-20.
The deciding game was definitely closer throughout the duration as Evansville would not go quietly. The Purple Aces went ahead by as many as six, 9-3, but the Musketeers raced to back to tie it up at 13 all. XU took its first lead of the game one point later as Horvath smashed out a kill. From that point on the two squads battled back and forth until Xavier pulled ahead at the end to take the game and the match with a 30-25 victory.
Horvath's 15 kills were good enough for a team high while Ruth posted a team-best 19 digs. Junior Jenn Welsh dished out 31 assists, sharing setting duty with freshman Claire Paszkiewicz (15 assists).
In the first match of the day Eastern Michigan was able to put away Delaware State in three straight games as well, winning the match 30-19, 30-27, 30-18.
There are four matches scheduled for the second day of the Aussie Xavier Invitational with the Musketeers opening up against the Hornets of Delaware State at 10:00 am and will go on to face Eastern Michigan at 7:00 pm.
For ticket information for this weekend's matches, please click here. For the latest results, statistics and live updates from the tournament www.GOXAVIER.com.
