Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Cal Poly
Volleyball Serves Upset to No. 14 Cal Poly, 3-2
09.14.07 | Volleyball
Sept. 14, 2007
Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - The Xavier volleyball team upset 14th-ranked Cal Poly, 3-2, Friday night in the first game of the USF Asics/Coca-Cola Invitational at War Memorial Gym. The Musketeers took the Mustangs to five games (30-27, 26-30, 23-30, 30-28, 15-6) in the program's first victory over a nationally ranked team in at least the last five years. The Blue and White improves to 9-3 on the year while Cal Poly falls to (5-5).
XU was led by a duo of sophomores who posted double-double's for the match. Lauren Kaminsky set a new career high in digs (27) to go along with her 14 kills while Kelly Ruth tied her career-high mark in kills (20) to go with 16 digs. Senior Jill Quayle had 15 kills and six total blocks (2 BS, 4BA) for the night while senior Jenni Horvath had 14 digs.
In the first game Xavier was able to take a quick 3-1 lead over No. 14 Cal Poly but the Mustangs recovered and recovered the lead at 4-3. The Musketeers tied the game at nine apiece on a kill from Russell but Cal Poly used a 5-0 run to move ahead, 14-9. XU pulled within one, 19-18, on the strength of a kill by Quayle and then tied the game at 19-all after a Cal Poly attacking error. After two straight Mustang points, the Musketeers took a minute to talk it over.
Out of the break both teams continued to keep the frame close, trading points back and forth. Cal Poly never went ahead by more than two and Xavier was able to retake the lead at 27-26 after three consecutive errors by the Mustangs, resulting in a Cal Poly timeout. Another error and a service ace by Kaminsky put the Musketeers up by three, 29-26, out of the break. After another XU timeout, Ruth smashed out a kill to take the frame, 30-27, and a one-game lead.
There would be no runs for either team in the first third of the second game. Neither team would take more than a one point advantage until the Mustangs got to 10, standing two ahead of the Musketeers. Cal Poly would stretch that lead out to four, 16-12, resulting in a Xavier timeout. Out of the break, the Mustangs built on their advantage with a 4-1 run right into a seven point lead and another XU timeout.
Xavier scored six unanswered points to cut the Cal Poly lead to one, 22-21, capped off with a solo block by Quayle. But that was as close as the Musketeers would get in the second game. Cal Poly ended up with a four point advantage at the end of the frame, 30-26, tying the match at one game apiece.
Game three would again start out close and the two teams would remain neck-and-neck until Cal Poly used a 7-0 run to take a 22-15 lead. Xavier called a timeout and out of the break scored two points off two Mustang errors. But Cal Poly would score the last two points of the game to take the frame, 30-23.
The Mustangs carried a 2-1 advantage into the fourth game but the Musketeers came out fighting with a 6-1 run to open the frame. Cal Poly quickly called a timeout to talk it over. Out of the break, the Mustangs racked up three points but the Blue and White returned the favor and was able to extend its lead to four, 9-5. The Musketeers found themselves with a five point advantage after another solo block by Quayle notched the score at 17-12.
Cal Poly used the strength of a 4-0 run to pull within one but it would not be enough as Xavier continued to hold the advantage throughout the game. The Musketeer lead was stretched to four several times before the fourth game came down to the wire. Cal Poly pulled within one but XU closed the frame with a 30-28 victory to tie the match, 2-2, and to stay alive.
Xavier blazed out to a 4-0 lead to open the final game of the contest, leading directly into a Mustang timeout. After talking it over, Cal Poly gave up another point before scoring its first of the game. XU continued its relentless attack and the lead ballooned to seven at 10-3 on a service ace by Kaminsky.
A kill by Quayle and a Mustang error put XU up, 12-5, and the Musketeers were three points away from victory. Those three points came in the form of three kills, one each by Ruth, Kaminsky and Russell. Xavier took the deciding game, 15-6, and upset the No. 14 Cal Poly, 3-2.
The XU netters return to action tomorrow afternoon as they are set to face host San Francisco at 2 p.m. ET. For live stats and live audio and video streaming of this match please click here. Please continue to check www.GOXAVIER.com for the latest stats and updates.
