Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
6-2
Syracuse
5-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | 23 | 16 | 12 | 0 |
| Xavier | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Service Aces Propel Xavier Over Syracuse, 3-0
09.13.14 | Volleyball
Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
CINCINNATI - The Xavier volleyball team improved its record to 6-2 with a 3-0 victory over the Orange of Syracuse (5-3) in their second match of the Millennium Hotel Invite Saturday afternoon at Cintas Center.Xavier won set one, 25-23, by keeping a healthy lead the majority of the set. It was not until Syracuse called its second timeout that the Orange began to close the gap. Syracuse got within one (24-23) late in the match before an Orange service error ended the set.
In set two, Xavier pulled away with a comfortable lead in the beginning. Syracuse put up two big blocks within three points to force Xavier to call a timeout. Junior Makayla Agin came out of the timeout swinging, putting a kill down to shift the momentum back Xavier's way. Abbey Bessler was sent back to serve starting her six-point run with a service ace. The Orange put up back-to-back blocks to make an attempt at minimizing the spread, but Agin put down another kill to right back to win the set, 25-16.
Lauren Metzger started serving for the Musketeers in set three as Xavier jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Syracuse answered quickly with a service ace, but Xavier did not let that shake them. Xavier was able to minimize Syracuse's runs to a maximum of three, while maximizing on their own. Sariah Suryadevara and Aubree Smith both served five-point runs to give the Musketeers the edge over the Orange. Agin sealed the deal for XU with a kill and a block in the final two points of the set.
Xavier's final stat line included six players with five or more kills. Bessler had a team-high 13 and Agin followed with nine.
Smith and Bessler recorded four service aces apiece while Metzger, Suryadevara and Jesse Earl each tallied one of their own to total 11 aces for the match.
Alex Blair had a team high-hitting percentage of .636 with seven kills in 11 attempts and no errors. Agin followed with 16 attack attempts and no errors, giving her a percentage of .562.
Earl and Suryadevara dug up 50 percent of Xavier's digs with 12 and 14, respectively.
The Musketeers play in their final game of the Millennium Hotel Invite Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Cintas Center against the Buckeyes of Ohio State.
