Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Saint Francis (PA)
Volleyball Bests Saint Francis (Pa.), 3-1
09.27.08 | Volleyball
Sept. 27, 2008
STONY BROOK, N.Y. – After decisively taking the first two sets, the Xavier volleyball team downed the Saint Francis Red Flash, 3-1 (25-15, 25-12, 21-25, 25-22), in its second match of the Stony Brook Invitational Saturday morning. XU was led by junior Kelly Ruth with 11 kills and sophomore Claire Paszkiewicz with 16 digs.
Also for the Musketeers, sophomore Chelsea Campbell recorded a season-high 10 kills to go along with seven digs and four assisted blocks. Junior Hillary Otte tallied nine kills, four assisted blocks and one solo block on the morning as well.
Xavier (6-7) took the early 5-2 lead capped off by an assisted block by junior Hillary Otte and freshman Emily Mayers. Saint Francis (4-13) battled to tie the set at eight-all after a Musketeer attacking error but XU regained the three-point advantage at 14-11 following a kill from junior Lauren Kaminsky. The Red Flash called timeout at 16-13 after another Musketeer assisted block, this time by Ruth and Campbell. XU ended a 6-0 run with a kill from Ruth and firmly held the lead at 20-13, with seven being its largest margin to that point. Holding set-point at 24-15, a Saint Francis attacking error ended the frame with Xavier on top, 25-15.
Campbell dominated the first set tallying three kills, a .600 hitting percentage and two assisted blocks. As a team, the Musketeers out-hit the Red Flash .200 to -.020 and they posted a total of four blocks to SFU’s one.
The second set started out similar to the first with XU jumping out 8-4 after two SFU attacking errors and a service ace by sophomore Claire Paszkiewicz. The Red Flash needed a minute to talk it over and out of the timeout the Musketeers extended their lead to 11, 16-5, off a kill from Mayers. Xavier found itself ahead by as many as 13 and made its way to set-point, 24-12, on the strength of a kill by Kaminsky. Ruth finished off the frame as she smashed down her fifth kill of the match and the Musketeers went up two sets to one.
The Musketeers tallied four more total blocks in the second set and posted an incredible .500 hitting percentage while the Red Flash improved slightly but could muster only a .091 clip.
XU went up 7-2 to open the third game after back-to back kills from Otte and sophomore Shannon Voors. The Red Flash rallied to take over the lead, 10-8, using a 7-0 before being stopped by a kill from Voors. Xavier called a timeout with Saint Francis leading 12-9 to regroup and Campbell smashed down a kill out of the break. The Musketeers knotted the two squads at 14-14 with an Otte kill but the Red Flash were not ready to quit. Saint Francis led by as many as four but three consecutive Campbell kills pulled Xavier to within one, 21-20, and the Red Flash called a timeout. SFU held set-point, 24-21, and was able to take the frame with a service ace.
Campbell continued her first-set play in the third, tallying seven kills, although the team as a whole did not play as well offensively. XU’s hitting percentage in the third plummeted to .171.
Ruth started the fourth game strong, recording back-to-back kills, including one off the face of one of the Red Flash. Although XU jumped out to a 4-1 lead, SFU stayed in the set pulling to within one four times before tying it 9-9 in the early going. Saint Francis took the 16-14 lead after a 4-0 run but Xavier squared the set at 18-all with a kill from Mayers. An SFU attacking error gave XU the lead back at 23-22 and the Red Flash took a minute to talk it over. Out of the break, another Saint Francis error gave Xavier match-point, 24-22, and a Ruth kill sealed the deal as XU took the set, 25-22, and the match 3-1.
The Red Flash was led by Kristin Buter with 11 kills and Shiley Miller, who posted the match's only double-double, with 10 kills and 20 digs.
The Musketeers will play the second half of their doubleheader at approximately 2 p.m. Saturday versus the Brown Bears.
