Xavier University Athletics
Saturday, September 26
Cincinnati, Ohio
8 P.M.
Xavier University
vs
St. John's
BIG EAST Action Continues on Friday Night at St. John's
10.28.15 | Volleyball
Xavier defeated the Red Storm in five sets earlier this season
CINCINNATI – Xavier volleyball returns to BIG EAST action on Friday, Oct. 30, traveling to St. John's for a 7 p.m. matchup. The contest will be aired on ESPN3.
The Musketeers enter the match with 11-10 overall record and 7-3 mark in BIG EAST play to rank fourth in the conference standings. XU went 1-1 last week, dropping a five-set midweek contest to in-state rival Dayton before earning a three-set win over Butler on Saturday.
St. John's is 15-11 on the year and 5-6 in conference action, ranking tied for fifth in the conference standings. The Red Storm most recently lost a three-set match at Creighton on Oct. 25.
The Red Storm lead the BIG EAST in blocks (2.52 b/s), while ranking 44th nationally in the category. XU ranks second in the conference in digs (16.07 d/s) and fourth in both assists (12.05 a/s) and kills (13.25 k/s).
• Junior Abbey Bessler was named BIG EAST Player of the Week on Monday afternoon, earning the weekly honors for the second time this season. The Hebron, Ky., native averaged 4.25 k/s and 3.12 d/s last week. Bessler finished the week with 34 kills, 25 digs, two service aces and two blocks.
• Bessler previously won the weekly honors on Sept. 28 following a record-breaking performance at Marquette. She has also earned weekly honor roll honors four times this season (Aug. 31, Oct. 5, Oct. 12, Oct. 19).
• In BIG EAST only action, the Musketeers rank second hitting percentage (.276), assists (13.82 a/s), kills (14.39 k/s) and service aces (1.53 sa/s).
• Kristen Massa's .374 hitting percentage in BIG EAST competition ranks second, while Abbey Bessler's .298 percentage ranks ninth, respectively.
• Abbey Bessler leads the BIG EAST in points (5.32 p/s) and kills (4.87 k/s) during conference only action.
• Sofia Peterson hit .315 in two matches last week and averaged 3.00 k/s. The redshirt-junior ranks third on the team in total kills (191) and second in blocks (43).
• Meredith Klare averaged 4.00 d/s last week in two matches. The libero ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in digs (3.68 d/s).
• The Musketeers are 6-0 all-time against St. John's.
• Xavier won the first meeting between the two schools earlier this season in five sets. The Musketeers trailed 2-0 before posting the come-from-behind victory.
• Abbey Bessler posted school record 33 kills in the win over the Red Storm on Sept. 26 at Cintas Center. Her 33 kills ranks tied for fifth in the NCAA single-match rankings this season (five sets).
• The last meeting featured 33 ties and 13 lead changes. XU finished the match with a .256 hitting percentage and six blocks.
• In the most recent release of the NCAA statistical rankings, the Musketeers rank 56th in the nation in digs per set (16.07 d/s). The Musketeers also rank 55th in team attacks per set (36.64 a/s).
• Abbey Bessler ranks second in the BIG EAST and 45th nationally in attacks per set (11.17 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 31-13 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 1,356. She also needs 98 more kills to enter the top-10 in career kills.
• Bessler is 29 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 86-59 overall record with a 50-24 mark in conference play. XU has also had 12 players earn all-conference honors and two players earn AVCA All-American recognition.
The Musketeers end their east coast swing at Providence on Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. XU won the first meeting this season, 3-0, on Sept. 25 at Cintas Center.
The Musketeers enter the match with 11-10 overall record and 7-3 mark in BIG EAST play to rank fourth in the conference standings. XU went 1-1 last week, dropping a five-set midweek contest to in-state rival Dayton before earning a three-set win over Butler on Saturday.
St. John's is 15-11 on the year and 5-6 in conference action, ranking tied for fifth in the conference standings. The Red Storm most recently lost a three-set match at Creighton on Oct. 25.
The Red Storm lead the BIG EAST in blocks (2.52 b/s), while ranking 44th nationally in the category. XU ranks second in the conference in digs (16.07 d/s) and fourth in both assists (12.05 a/s) and kills (13.25 k/s).
 | WEEKLY HONORS |
• Junior Abbey Bessler was named BIG EAST Player of the Week on Monday afternoon, earning the weekly honors for the second time this season. The Hebron, Ky., native averaged 4.25 k/s and 3.12 d/s last week. Bessler finished the week with 34 kills, 25 digs, two service aces and two blocks.
• Bessler previously won the weekly honors on Sept. 28 following a record-breaking performance at Marquette. She has also earned weekly honor roll honors four times this season (Aug. 31, Oct. 5, Oct. 12, Oct. 19).
| NOTABLES |
• In BIG EAST only action, the Musketeers rank second hitting percentage (.276), assists (13.82 a/s), kills (14.39 k/s) and service aces (1.53 sa/s).
• Kristen Massa's .374 hitting percentage in BIG EAST competition ranks second, while Abbey Bessler's .298 percentage ranks ninth, respectively.
• Abbey Bessler leads the BIG EAST in points (5.32 p/s) and kills (4.87 k/s) during conference only action.
• Sofia Peterson hit .315 in two matches last week and averaged 3.00 k/s. The redshirt-junior ranks third on the team in total kills (191) and second in blocks (43).
• Meredith Klare averaged 4.00 d/s last week in two matches. The libero ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in digs (3.68 d/s).
| SERIES HISTORY |
• The Musketeers are 6-0 all-time against St. John's.
• Xavier won the first meeting between the two schools earlier this season in five sets. The Musketeers trailed 2-0 before posting the come-from-behind victory.
| LAST TIME OUT: ST. JOHN'S |
• Abbey Bessler posted school record 33 kills in the win over the Red Storm on Sept. 26 at Cintas Center. Her 33 kills ranks tied for fifth in the NCAA single-match rankings this season (five sets).
• The last meeting featured 33 ties and 13 lead changes. XU finished the match with a .256 hitting percentage and six blocks.
| NCAA STAT RANKINGS |
• In the most recent release of the NCAA statistical rankings, the Musketeers rank 56th in the nation in digs per set (16.07 d/s). The Musketeers also rank 55th in team attacks per set (36.64 a/s).
• Abbey Bessler ranks second in the BIG EAST and 45th nationally in attacks per set (11.17 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 31-13 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 1,356. She also needs 98 more kills to enter the top-10 in career kills.
• Bessler is 29 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 86-59 overall record with a 50-24 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 end their east coast swing at Providence on Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. XU won the first meeting this season, 3-0, on Sept. 25 at Cintas Center.
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Volleyball
DS/Libero
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
RS
/ Volleyball
Setter
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