Four Musketeers Record Double-Figure Kills in Four Set Loss to Villanova

Saturday, October 15

Cincinnati, Ohio

6 p.m.

Xavier University

11-11 (5-4BIG EAST)

Villanova

14-8 (5-4BIG EAST)

Villanova

Xavier

Four Musketeers Record Double-Figure Kills in Four Set Loss to Villanova

10.15.16 | Volleyball

Box Score Season Stats (PDF)Box Score (PDF)

Sophomore Morgan Finn posted a career-high 12 kills

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Four Musketeers recorded double-figure kills on Saturday night, but Xavier volleyball dropped a four-set match (25-22, 26-28, 21-25, 23-25) to Villanova at Cintas Center.

The Musketeers (11-11, 5-4 BIG EAST) had their three-match win streak snapped with the loss. The Wildcats improved to 14-8 (5-4 BIG EAST).

MATCH NOTES

• Sofia Peterson had a team-high 16 kills and .412 hitting percentage. Abbey Bessler added 14, while Kristen Massa posted 13.

• Morgan Finn had a career-high 12 kills to round out the Xavier players with 10 or more kills. The sophomore outside hitter has averaged 10 kills per game in her last three outings.

• Xavier had two more services aces (5-3) than Villanova, led by Meredith Klare who had three. Samantha Foti also had two.

• Meredith Klare also had a match-high 28 digs, while Samantha Foti chipped in 14.

• McKena Estes posted her third double-double of the year with a team-high 28 assists and 10 digs.

• Xavier had two more total team blocks (9-7) than Villanova with Brooke Betts pacing the Musketeers with five. Sofia Peterson also added four.

SET ONE

• Xavier never trailed in the opening set, but Villanova kept the match close with five ties. Xavier also never led by more than four points. Leading 24-22, the Musketeers got block assists from Brooke Betts and Sofia Peterson to seal the win.

• Abbey Bessler had five kills, while Morgan Finn added four with a .667 hitting percentage. Xavier also had four service aces with Meredith Klare recording three.

SET TWO

• Set two featured 13 ties and five lead changes with neither team leading by more than three points. Tied at 26, Villanova got a service ace from Emma Decker before taking advantage of a Xavier attack error to even the match at one.

• Sofia Peterson led Xavier with five kills, while Morgan Finn and Abbey Bessler added four. Meredith Klare had eight digs in the set.

SET THREE

• The third set had 10 ties and three lead changes. Tied at 17, the Wildcats closed the frame on an 8-4 run to take a 2-1 lead over the Musketeers.

• Sofia Peterson hit .500 with five kills. Meredith Klare also had seven digs.

SET FOUR

• Neither team led by more than three points in the final set as it featured six ties and four lead changes. Tied at 22, Villanova scored three of the final four points in the set to win the match.

Kristen Massa had four kills with a .667 hitting percentage.

UP NEXT

• Xavier continues its homestand on Thursday, Oct. 20 against St. John's. First serve is slated for 6 p.m.