Musketeers, Bluejays Set for Saturday Night Contest

Saturday, October 17

Cincinnati, Ohio

7 P.M.

Xavier University

Creighton

Musketeers, Bluejays Set for Saturday Night Contest

10.17.15 | Volleyball

First serve is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier volleyball looks to win its third straight match on Saturday night at 7 p.m., playing host to Creighton at Cintas Center.

The Musketeers are coming off a four-set win over Georgetown on Friday afternoon. Xavier is 10-8 overall and 6-2 in BIG EAST play to rank third in the conference standings.

Creighton ranks first in the BIG EAST standings with a perfect 8-0 record. The Bluejays won their ninth straight match on Friday night, defeating Butler in four sets to move to 14-7 on the year.

PROMOTIONS

•The match will serve as 'Girl Scout Day' and 'Junior Musketeer Day'.

• All Girl Scouts in attendance will receive an 'X' patch, while the first 100 kids receive a drawstring bag.

• Prior to the match, kids will have the opportunity to make posters with the Blue Blob and XU Cheerleaders.

• Following the conclusion of the match, the entire XU volleyball team will be available to sign posters for fans.

• XU students who attend the match will have receive an invitation to a pizza party with the team that will be held on Oct. 20.

LAST TIME OUT

• The Musketeers posted a four-set win over Georgetown on Friday night behind a season-high .477 hitting percentage - their highest percentage since hitting .507 at Fordham Oct. 21, 2011. It was also the highest hitting percentage by a BIG EAST team this season and second-highest hitting percentage in the nation this season (four-set match).

• Three XU players had 12 or more kills paced by Abbey Bessler's match-high 21 kills.

NOTABLES

• Kristen Massa had 16 kills on 21 attempts with no errors in the win over Georgetown. The sophomore's .762 hitting percentage ranks second in school history and is the third-best hitting percentage in the nation this season (minimum 20 attempts).

• Abbey Bessler had a match-high 21 kills to go along with 16 digs on Friday night, her 10th double-double of the year. The outside hitter now has four matches this season with 20 or more kills. Bessler also had a season-high .513 hitting percentage in the win.

• Sofia Peterson had 12 kills against Georgetown, her second consecutive match with 12 kills and sixth match with 10 or more in a match this season. The redshirt-junior also hit .476 in the match, tying her career high.

• In the third set against the Hoyas, the Musketeers posted a .643 hitting percentage - recording 18 kills in 28 attempts with no errors.

• Newcomer Brooke Betts also had a solid performance against the Hoyas, recording seven kills with no errors in nine attempts for a .778 attacking percentage.

SERIES HISTORY

• The Musketeers are 0-7 all-time against the Bluejays. Xavier lost all three meetings last year, including a four-set loss in the BIG EAST Tournament on Nov. 28.

LAST TIME OUT: CREIGHTON

• Xavier had five more service aces (17-12) than the Creighton in the series last year and posted one more block (23-22). The Bluejays recorded a .256 hitting percentage, while the Musketeers hit .139.

• Abbey Bessler averaged 2.73 k/s and 2.27 d/s against the Bluejays last year. Kristen Massa added 28 kills, while Sofia Peterson had 20.

NCAA STAT RANKINGS

• In the most recent release of the NCAA statistical rankings, the Musketeers rank 34th in the nation in digs per set (16.48 d/s). The Musketeers also rank 24th in team attacks per set (37.34 a/s).

• Abbey Bessler ranks second in the BIG EAST and 45th nationally in attacks per set (11.20 a/s).

THE XU VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM

• The Musketeers posted a 19-12 overall record last year, the team's 17th straight year with a .500 or above record.

• Xavier has posted a 30-12 record in BIG EAST play since joining the conference in 2013. The Musketeers advanced to the conference tournament in both seasons.

• Xavier players have earned AVCA All-American honors eight times in the last 10 years. Aubree Smith earned the honors last season, while Abbey Bessler picked up the recognition in 2013.

RECORD WATCH: BESSLER

• Junior Abbey Bessler ranks seventh in career points at Xavier with 1,306.5. She also needs 144 more kills to enter the top-10 in career kills.

• Bessler is 62 digs away from becoming the 12th member of the 1,000 Kills-1,000 Digs Club. Sarah Brown (2010-13) was the last Xavier player to enter the club, finishing her career with 1,076 kills and 1,210 digs.

FIRST-YEAR HEAD COACH

Christy Pfeffenberger was named head coach on Jan. 29, 2015 after previously serving as the team's associate head coach. All told, she has spent five seasons on the bench as an either an assistant/associate head coach or head coach.

In five years on the Xavier bench, Pfeffenberger has helped the Musketeers post an 85-57 overall record with a 49-23 mark in conference play. XU has also had 12 players earn all-conference honors and two players earn AVCA All-American recognition.

UP NEXT

The Musketeers continue their homestand on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. against in-state rival Dayton. The match is Xavier's final non-conference contest this season.