Xavier University Athletics
Saturday, October 24
Cincinnati, Ohio
4 P.M.
Xavier University
vs
Butler
Musketeers, Bulldogs Set for BIG EAST Contest
10.23.15 | Volleyball
Xavier defeated Butler, 3-0, in the first meeting this season
CINCINNATI – Xavier volleyball opens the second half of BIG EAST action on Saturday, concluding a four-game homestand against Butler. First serve is slated for 4 p.m. at Cintas Center.
The Musketeers are coming off a five-set loss to in-state rival Dayton on Friday night. XU led 2-0 before the Flyers pulled off the come-from-behind victory to move their win streak to 14 matches.
Xavier enters Saturday's match with a 10-10 overall record and 6-3 mark in BIG EAST play to rank third in the conference standings. Butler is coming off a three set win over Marian on Wednesday, moving their overall record to 7-15 on the year.
The Bulldogs are 3-6 in BIG EAST play, ranking seventh in the conference standings. Butler has won two straight matches, while Xavier enters the match having dropped two in a row.
• The first 100 fans and 100 students receive a pink Xavier tumbler. XU will also be taking donations for the 'Making Strides Against Breast Cancer' association.
• The volleyball team will also be hosting a free youth clinic following the match for children in grades eight and under.
• Junior Abbey Bessler was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for the third consecutive week on Monday afternoon. The outside hitter averaged 4.12 k/s, totaling 33 kills on the week to go along with 3.00 d/s. The Hebron, Ky., native added a .314 hitting percentage, two service aces and one block.
• This is Bessler's fourth nomination to the Weekly Honor Roll this year (Aug. 31, Oct. 5, Oct. 12) and 11th time for her Xavier career. Bessler also earned BIG EAST Player of the Week honors earlier this season (Sept. 28) and was named Rookie of the Week by the conference twice during her freshman season.
• Sofia Peterson had a career-high 17 kills against Dayton. The redshirt-junior added a team-high .406 hitting percentage to go along with five blocks.
• Sofia Peterson has record 10 or more kills in match eight times this season, including four straight matches. The outside hitter has posted 2.94 k/s in her last four matches with a .382 hitting percentage.
• Abbey Bessler collected 15 kills and 16 digs versus the Flyers, her 11th double-double of the year. The junior now has 47 career double-doubles.
• Xavier ranks second in the BIG EAST in digs (16.10 d/s) and fourth in both assists (11.95 a/s) and kills (13.19 k/s).
• The Musketeers lead the all-time series with Butler, 16-12. Xavier has won seven of the last eight meetings in the series.
• Xavier won the first meeting this year in three sets behind a then-season high nine service aces. The match was played at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse on Oct. 3.
• Abbey Bessler posted a match-high 14 kills against the Bulldogs to go along with five digs. The junior outside hitter has averaged 4.71 k/s and 2.62 d/s in five career matches versus the Bulldogs.
• In the most recent release of the NCAA statistical rankings, the Musketeers rank 46st in the nation in digs per set (16.10 d/s). The Musketeers also rank 52nd in team attacks per set (36.68 a/s).
• Abbey Bessler ranks second in the BIG EAST and 49th nationally in attacks per set (11.08 a/s).
• 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 30-13 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.
• Junior Abbey Bessler ranks seventh in career points at Xavier with 1,335.5. She also needs 117 more kills to enter the top-10 in career kills.
• Bessler is 38 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.
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 85-59 overall record with a 49-24 mark in conference play. XU has also had 12 players earn all-conference honors and two players earn AVCA All-American recognition.
The Musketeers hit the road for back-to-back BIG EAST matches, facing St. John's on Oct. 30 and Providence on Oct. 31.
The Musketeers are coming off a five-set loss to in-state rival Dayton on Friday night. XU led 2-0 before the Flyers pulled off the come-from-behind victory to move their win streak to 14 matches.
Xavier enters Saturday's match with a 10-10 overall record and 6-3 mark in BIG EAST play to rank third in the conference standings. Butler is coming off a three set win over Marian on Wednesday, moving their overall record to 7-15 on the year.
The Bulldogs are 3-6 in BIG EAST play, ranking seventh in the conference standings. Butler has won two straight matches, while Xavier enters the match having dropped two in a row.
 | PROMOTIONS |
• The first 100 fans and 100 students receive a pink Xavier tumbler. XU will also be taking donations for the 'Making Strides Against Breast Cancer' association.
• The volleyball team will also be hosting a free youth clinic following the match for children in grades eight and under.
| WEEKLY HONORS: BESSLER |
• Junior Abbey Bessler was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for the third consecutive week on Monday afternoon. The outside hitter averaged 4.12 k/s, totaling 33 kills on the week to go along with 3.00 d/s. The Hebron, Ky., native added a .314 hitting percentage, two service aces and one block.
• This is Bessler's fourth nomination to the Weekly Honor Roll this year (Aug. 31, Oct. 5, Oct. 12) and 11th time for her Xavier career. Bessler also earned BIG EAST Player of the Week honors earlier this season (Sept. 28) and was named Rookie of the Week by the conference twice during her freshman season.
| NOTABLES |
• Sofia Peterson had a career-high 17 kills against Dayton. The redshirt-junior added a team-high .406 hitting percentage to go along with five blocks.
• Sofia Peterson has record 10 or more kills in match eight times this season, including four straight matches. The outside hitter has posted 2.94 k/s in her last four matches with a .382 hitting percentage.
• Abbey Bessler collected 15 kills and 16 digs versus the Flyers, her 11th double-double of the year. The junior now has 47 career double-doubles.
• Xavier ranks second in the BIG EAST in digs (16.10 d/s) and fourth in both assists (11.95 a/s) and kills (13.19 k/s).
| SERIES HISTORY |
• The Musketeers lead the all-time series with Butler, 16-12. Xavier has won seven of the last eight meetings in the series.
| LAST TIME OUT: BUTLER |
• Xavier won the first meeting this year in three sets behind a then-season high nine service aces. The match was played at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse on Oct. 3.
• Abbey Bessler posted a match-high 14 kills against the Bulldogs to go along with five digs. The junior outside hitter has averaged 4.71 k/s and 2.62 d/s in five career matches versus the Bulldogs.
| NCAA STAT RANKINGS |
• In the most recent release of the NCAA statistical rankings, the Musketeers rank 46st in the nation in digs per set (16.10 d/s). The Musketeers also rank 52nd in team attacks per set (36.68 a/s).
• Abbey Bessler ranks second in the BIG EAST and 49th nationally in attacks per set (11.08 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 30-13 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 1,335.5. She also needs 117 more kills to enter the top-10 in career kills.
• Bessler is 38 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 |
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 85-59 overall record with a 49-24 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 hit the road for back-to-back BIG EAST matches, facing St. John's on Oct. 30 and Providence on Oct. 31.
Players Mentioned
PRESS CONFERENCE | Coach Pfeffenberger, Margo Kemp & Anna Taylor after Michigan (NCAA First Round)
Saturday, December 06
HIGHLIGHTS | Volleyball vs. Michigan (NCAA First Round)
Friday, December 05
2025 NCAA Volleyball Selection Show
Tuesday, December 02
HIGHLIGHTS | Volleyball vs. Creighton (BIG EAST Championship)
Sunday, November 23