Musketeers Look to Win Third Straight BIG EAST Opener on Wednesday

Wednesday, September 23

Milwaukee, Wis.

8 P.M.

Xavier University

Marquette

Musketeers Look to Win Third Straight BIG EAST Opener on Wednesday

09.22.15 | Volleyball

Xavier opens its conference slate at Marquette

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Xavier volleyball looks to capture its third straight BIG EAST opener on Wednesday night, traveling to Marquette for a 8 p.m. EST match at the Al McGuire Center.

The contest will be aired on the BIG EAST Digital Network and live stats will be available at GoMarquette.com.

Xavier enters the match with a 4-6 record, while Marquette is 8-4 on the year.

LAST TIME OUT

Xavier is coming off a four-set loss against No. 24 Kentucky on Sept. 18, the Musketeers second straight contest against a nationally ranked opponent. The Musketeers are 2-2 in their last four matches.

NOTABLES

• The Musketeers have won five straight conference openers, including both BIG EAST openers since joining the conference in 2013.

• Xavier has posted a 24-10 record since joining the BIG EAST. The Musketeers have also advanced to the conference tournament in each season.

• Makayla Agin posted a season-high 13 kills against Kentucky. The senior has averaged 3.57 k/s in her last two matches with a .435 hitting percentage.

• Redshirt-freshman Meredith Klare ranks third in the BIG EAST in digs per set (4.63 d/s) and fourth in total digs (185). Xavier has two other players with over 100 digs in Abbey Bessler (131) and Samantha Foti (110). Mackenzi Humm has added 99 on the year, respectively.

• Abbey Bessler leads the Musketeers with 3.05 k/s to rank eighth in the BIG EAST. The junior also ranks ninth in digs per set (3.36 d/s).

• Sophomore Lauren Frilling has nearly doubled her kills and blocks from a year ago. The middle blocker is averaging 1.50 k/s, while leading the team in total blocks (32).

SERIES HISTORY

• The Musketeers trail the all-time series with Marquette, 9-5. XU has dropped five in a row against the Golden Eagles.

• Xavier's last win against the Golden Eagles was on Nov. 16, 1990 in five sets at the MCC Tournament.

• Abbey Bessler led Xavier with 2.6 k/s in the two matches against Marquette a year ago. The junior has recorded 53 kills and 40 digs in four career matches versus the Golden Eagles.

SCOUTING MARQUETTE

• The Golden Eagles captured their home tournament last weekend, the Marquette Invitational, with a 2-1 record – posting wins over Albany and IUPUI. Nicki Barnes and Taylor Louis were selected for all-tournament team, while Joy Miley was named the tournament MVP.

• Redshirt-freshman Taylor Louis leads the NCAA with 5.38 kills per set. She has also added four double-doubles this season.

• Junior Lauren Houg leads the BIG EAST with 5.33 digs per set to rank 13th in the NCAA. Classmate Sara Blasier is dishing out 10.90 assists pet set, which is third in the BIG EAST.

NCAA STAT RANKINGS

In the most recent release of the NCAA statistical rankings, the Musketeers rank sixth the nation in digs per set (17.40 d/s). The Musketeers also rank fourth in team attacks per set (38.53 a/s).

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 finished fourth in the BIG EAST standings a year ago with a 12-6 mark to move their conference record to 24-10 since joining the league in 2013. 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 ninth in career points at Xavier with 1,137.5. She also needs 298 more kills to enter the top-10 in career kills.

PRESEASON POLL

Xavier was selected to finish third in the BIG EAST Preseason Poll on Aug. 5 as voted on by the league's 10 head coaches. Creighton, the reigning BIG EAST Tournament and regular-season champions, was picked to win the conference as the Bluejays received 81 points and nine first-place votes.

BIG EAST PRESEASON TEAM

Abbey Bessler was one of five unanimous selections to the 12-member, non-positional preseason all-conference team. The outside hitter earned AVCA All-Regional Honorable Mention Team honors last season and was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team and All-BIG EAST Tournament Team.

Bessler ranked fifth in the BIG EAST in kills (420) last season and sixth in total points. The two-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection is one of four returning starters for the 2015 season.

FIRST-YEAR HEAD COACH

Christy 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 79-55 overall record with a 43-21 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 continues BIG EAST play on Sept. 25-26 against Providence and St. John's at Cintas Center. The Musketeers face the Friars at 7 p.m. on Friday and the Red Storm on Saturday at 7 p.m.