BIG EAST Action Continues on Friday Against Providence

Friday, September 25

Cincinnati, Ohio

7 P.M.

Xavier University

Providence

BIG EAST Action Continues on Friday Against Providence

09.24.15 | Volleyball

Musketeers, Friars slated to play at 7 p.m. at Cintas Center

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Xavier volleyball continues BIG EAST action on Friday, Sept. 25 against Providence. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.

The Musketeers opened conference action on Wednesday with a 3-0 win at Marquette to improve to 5-6 (1-0 BIG EAST) on the year. The win at Marquette was Xavier's sixth straight conference-opening win.

The Friars are 9-5 on the year, most recently coming off a five-set loss against Colgate on Sept. 19. Providence entered the Colgate match on an eight-game win streak with only one set lost during the streak.

LAST TIME OUT

Xavier picked up a three set win at Marquette on Wednesday night, snapping a five-game losing streak in the series with the Golden Eagles and improving to 6-9 all-time against Marquette.

BESSLER - 1,000 CAREER KILLS

Junior Abbey Bessler posted her 1,000th career kill in the second set at Marquette. The outside hitter now has 1,009 career kills with a 3.60 k/s average.

NOTABLES

• Abbey Bessler posted a match-high 16 kills in the win at Marquette, her eighth match of the season with 10 or more kills. The junior also added 11 digs for her sixth double-double of the year.

• Kristen Massa added 12 kills in the win at Marquette, her third straight match with double-figure kills. The sophomore outside hitter ranks second on the team in kills (2.86 k/s) and 11th in the BIG EAST.

• Freshman McKena Estes posted her second double-double of the year at Marquette with 21 assists and 12 digs.

• The Musketeers hit .405 in the opening set at Marquette, the team's fifth time this season hitting .400 or above in a set.

• Makayla Agin has averaged 3.10 k/s with a .419 hitting percentage in her last three matches. The senior outside hitter/right side ranks fourth in the squad in total kills (72).

• Sophomore Lauren Frilling has nearly doubled her kills and blocks from a year ago. The middle blocker is averaging 1.51 k/s, while leading the team in total blocks (33).

SERIES HISTORY

• The Musketeers are 3-0 all time against Providence. Xavier won both matches last year in three sets.

• Xavier hit .306 in the series last year, paced by Abbey Bessler who hit .408 with a team-high 23 kills. Kristen Massa hit .359 and added 3.00 k/s, while Makayla chipped in 2.83 k/s.

SCOUTING PROVIDENCE

• The Friars were picked to finish 10th in the preseason poll following a 6-26 (2-16 BIG EAST) record last season. Providence returns 12 letterwinners and five starters from last year.

• Providence leads the BIG EAST in kills (14.53 k/s), while ranking second in hitting percentage (.252) and assists (13.35 a/s).

NCAA STAT RANKINGS

• In the most recent release of the NCAA statistical rankings, the Musketeers rank fourth the nation in digs per set (17.56 d/s). The Musketeers also rank fourth in team attacks per set (38.58 a/s).

• Abbey Bessler ranks second in the BIG EAST and 61st nationally in attacks per set (10.79 a/s). Meredith Klare ranks third in the conference in digs per set (4.56 d/s) and 80th nationally.

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 25-10 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 ninth in career points at Xavier with 1,153.5. She also needs 282 more kills to enter the top-10 in career kills.

• Bessler is 156 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.

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 an 80-55 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 Saturday, Sept. 26 against St. John's. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center.

UPCOMING PROMOTION

Fans who bring a book to donate to The Children's Home of Cincinnati on Saturday will receive free admission into the match versus St. John's.