Final Homestand Begins on Friday Against DePaul

Friday, November 20

Cincinnati, Ohio

7 P.M.

Xavier University

DePaul

Final Homestand Begins on Friday Against DePaul

11.19.15 | Volleyball

Musketeers, Blue Demons set to play at 7 p.m. at Cintas Center

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Xavier volleyball wraps up BIG EAST regular-season action on Nov. 20-21, playing a pair of home matches beginning with DePaul on Friday night. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. at Cintas Center.

The Musketeers are 16-11 (12-4 BIG EAST) this season, ranking tied for second in the conference standings. Xavier has solidified a spot in the four-team BIG EAST Tournament on Nov. 27-28 in Omaha, Neb.

DePaul enters the match with a 16-13 (4-12 BIG EAST) record to rank eighth in the BIG EAST standings. The Blue Demons are 4-6 in road matches this year and are 3-2 in their last five matches.

PROMOTIONS

• Friday - Bring Your "A" Game - all kids in grades 8 and under who bring their report card or recent test with an A on it get in FREE.

• Saturday - Senior Night! First 100 fans receive a signed team poster. Relay For Life will be in attendance selling t-shirts and raffling off a Xavier basket.

• For group ticket information, contact Hannah Martin at martinh10@xavier.edu

WEEKLY HONORS

• Junior Abbey Bessler was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday afternoon, earning the award for the sixth time this season. The outside hitter has also been tabbed BIG EAST Player of the Week twice.

• Bessler led the team in kills (21) and digs (24) last week as the Musketeers posted a 1-1 record in their final BIG EAST road swing. The outside hitter averaged 3.0 k/s and 3.43 d/s, while adding two service aces and four blocks.

• Bessler had six kills and 12 digs in a three-set loss to Creighton on Friday night. She followed that performance with 15 kills and 12 digs, her 15th double-double of the year, in a four-set win at Georgetown on Sunday.

NOTABLES

• Xavier is 6-1 in its last seven matches. The Musketeers have out blocked their opponents, 68-41.5, in that span – paced by Brooke Bett's 27 total blocks. Both Kristen Massa and Lauren Frilling have added 22.

• Xavier has posted 10 or more blocks in a match six times this season, including three times in the squad's last six matches.

• Abbey Bessler has averaged a team-high 3.44 k/s and 3.56 d/s in the team's last seven matches.

• In BIG EAST only matches, the Musketeers rank second in the conference in hitting percentage (.262), kills (14.08 k/s) and assists (13.34 a/s).

SERIES HISTORY

• The Musketeers are 11-5 all-time against the Blue Demons. Xavier had its six-game win streak in the series snapped on Sept. 30 this season, falling in four sets (23-25, 23-25, 25-20, 23-25) in Chicago.

• Makayla Agin has averaged 3.00 k/s with a .343 hitting percentage in four career matches against the Blue Demons.

• Abbey Bessler has hit .331 with 77 total kills in five career matches against DePaul. The outside hitter has averaged 4.53 k/s and 3.88 d/s in those matches.

LAST TIME OUT: DEPAUL

• Xavier dropped a four-set match (23-25, 23-25, 25-20, 23-25) in Chicago on Sept. 30 this season. Xavier hit .307 in the match, but couldn't overcome a season-high 16 service errors in the loss.

• Abbey Bessler had a match-high 28 kills and 16 digs in the loss. She was one of four players with 10 or more kills.

• Laura Grossman hit .316 with 10 kills at DePaul, while Sofia Peterson had 13 kills. Makayla Agin added 11 kills.

NCAA STAT RANKINGS

• In the most recent release of the NCAA statistical rankings, the Musketeers rank 85th in the nation in digs per set (15.81 d/s). The Musketeers also rank 64th in team attacks per set (36.62 a/s).

• Abbey Bessler ranks second in the BIG EAST and 65th nationally in attacks per set (10.72 a/s). She also ranks 73rd nationally in total kills (393) and 78th in points (442).

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 36-14 record in BIG EAST play since joining the conference in 2013. The Musketeers advanced to the conference tournament in all three 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 third in career points at Xavier with 1,442.5. She also needs 24 more kills to enter the top-10 in career kills.

• Bessler became the 12th member of the XU 1,000 Kills-1,000 Digs Club in the win at Providence on Oct. 31. She now has 1,267 kills and 1,058 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 a 91-60 overall record with a 55-25 mark in conference play. XU has also had 12 players earn all-conference honors and two players earn AVCA All-American recognition.

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 21 in the team's final BIG EAST regular-season match. The contest will serve as 'Senior Day' for the Musketeers' two seniors, Makayla Agin and Lauren Metzger.