Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
18-12
No. 2 Villanova
25-7
Villanova Ends Xavier’s BIG EAST Tournament Run in Three Sets
11.27.15 | Volleyball
The team ends its season with a 18-12, 14-4 BIG EAST record
OMAHA, Neb. - The Xavier volleyball team dropped its BIG EAST Championship semifinal match to the Wildcats of Villanova, 3-0, Friday evening at D.J. Sokal Arena.
Junior BIG EAST Player of the Year Abbey Bessler led the Musketeers in kills with 13, while McKena Estes had a team-high 19 assists. Samantha Foti paced the team in digs with 10.
Villanova grabbed the first points of set one, but back-to-back kills from Bessler gave Xavier its first lead of the match, 4-3. The set continued to be back and forth with six ties and four lead changes. The set was tied at 15-15 where Xavier put up back-to-back blocks to take its final lead of the match, 17-15. Villanova responded with an 8-3 run to win the set, 25-20.
The second set remained close until the Wildcats went on a four-point run, beginning at 10-10, that Xavier was never able to recover from. The Musketeers were nipping at the heels of the Wildcats, but were never able to get closer than three points the rest of the set. Villanova took set three, 25-19.
The final set opened up with a kill from Laura Grossman, and Villanova responded with a kill of its own which fueled a 6-1 run for the WIldcats. Bessler ended the run with a kill of her own from Mackenzi Humm. Then a Xavier block from Bessler and Lauren Frilling along with a service ace from Brooke Betts had Xavier within two, 8-6.
After trailing as much as three, the Musketeers came as close as one point with back-to-back service aces from Bessler, 12-11. The Musketeers got as close 19-17, but remained there not being as able to surpass the Wildcats as Villanova served out the set, 25-17.
Xavier ends its first season under head coach Christy Pfeffenberger with an 18-12 overall record and 14-4 BIG EAST record.
