Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Youngstown State
Volleyball Starts 2008 with 3-1 Win Over Youngstown State
08.29.08 | Volleyball
Aug. 29, 2008
COLUMBUS, Ohio – After dropping the first set of its 2008 season, the Xavier volleyball team rallied to claim the next three as it picked up a 3-1 win over Youngstown State Friday afternoon. This was the first of two matches the Musketeers are set to play on the first day of the Ohio State Sports Imports Classic, with the nightcap against host Ohio State set for 7:30 p.m. at St. John Arena. XU was led by junior Hillary Otte with a match-high 17 kills and an incredible .615 hitting percentage (17K-1E-26TA).
Two Musketeers tallied double-digit digs for the contest as senior Megan Hellmann got under a match-high 12 digs and junior Kelly Ruth recorded 10. Junior Lauren Kaminsky smashed eight kills and in her collegiate debut, freshman Kathryn Traut also recorded eight kills along with two assisted blocks.
XU got off to somewhat of a slow start as YSU jumped out to a 13-5 lead in the first set. The Penguins led by as many as 12 before taking the first frame by a margin of 25-14.
With the first-match jitters worked out, the Musketeers led off the second set by scoring six of the first seven points. Sophomore Shannon Voors served three consecutive aces forcing Youngstown State to take its second time out of the set with XU leading, 12-5. YSU tried to put together a comeback as it rattled off four points late in the frame but Xavier closed out the set with a kill from Voors and a Penguin attacking error to take the game, 25-16, and pulled the match even at one set apiece.
The Musketeers jumped out to an early lead again in the third set as Otte scored three of the team’s first five points to go up, 5-1. Youngstown State never really got back into the set as Xavier continued to put together several runs of four points at a time. The frame was decided on a Penguin service error and the Musketeers took the set, 25-11, and took the lead in the match, 2-1.
The Penguins were not going away without a fight, though, as YSU held a 5-2 lead early in the fourth frame. The Musketeers battled back and took their first advantage of the set at 9-8 off a kill from Traut. The two teams tied for more times before XU took the lead for good on a YSU attacking error to give Xavier the 14-13 advantage. Back-to-back kills from Kaminsky cemented the set for the Musketeers, 25-16, as well as the match, 3-1.
Xavier returns to action later this evening as it takes on host Ohio State in second round action of the Sports Imports Classic. First serve is set for 7:30 p.m. and you can follow along with live stats by clicking here.
