Musketeers Top Red Storm in Four Sets Behind Season-High 15 Blocks

Friday, October 30

Queens, N.Y.

7 P.M.

Xavier University

12-10, 8-3BIG EAST

St. John's

15-12, 5-7BIG EAST

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Xavier	27	25	25	25	3
St. John's	29	21	23	21	1

Musketeers Top Red Storm in Four Sets Behind Season-High 15 Blocks

10.30.15 | Volleyball

Box Score

Freshman Laura Grossman had a career-high 14 kills in the win

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

QUEENS, N.Y. - Xavier volleyball topped St. John's in four sets (27-29, 25-21, 25-23, 25-21) on Friday night behind a season-high 15 blocks and career-high performances from Laura Grossman and Mackenzi Humm.

Grossman recorded a career-high 14 kills with only one error in 26 attempts for a match-high .500 hitting percentage. Humm dished out a career-high 34 assists in the win.

Xavier improved to 2-0 this season against St. John's and 7-0 in the all-time series. The Musketeers moved to 8-3 in BIG EAST action and 12-10 overall in the win. The Red Storm dropped to 15-12 (5-7 BIG EAST).

Abbey Bessler finished with a match-high 23 kills and 16 digs, her 47th career double-double. The junior outside hitter has recorded 20 or more kills in a match five times this season. She is also 13 digs away from becoming the 12th member of the XU 1,000 kills-1,000 digs club.

Kristen Massa had 11 kills on the night, while Brooke Betts added seven. Makayla Agin chipped in six kills.

Defensively, Lauren Metzger and Meredith Klare combined for 29 digs. Massa had five block assists and one solo block, while Betts added five block assists.

The opening set had 14 ties and three lead changes with neither team leading by more than four points. With the score tie at 27, St. John's got a kill from Yaidy Santiago before a Xavier attacking error gave the Red Storm the opening set, 29-27.

Tied at 18 in set two, the Musketeers went on a 7-3 run capped by a Bessler kill to win the stanza, 25-21. Massa had six of her kills in the second set with a .857 hitting percentage.

Xavier never trailed in the third set, winning the frame 25-23. The Musketeers closed the night with a 25-21 victory in set four behind a match-high .333 hitting percentage.

Karin Palgutova had 14 kills and 12 digs for the Red Storm, while Santiago added 12 kills and 19 digs.

Xavier returns to action at Providence on Saturday, Oct. 31 at Providence. First serve is slated for 5 p.m.