Bessler Leads Xavier to Four-Set Win Over St. John’s

Thursday, October 20

Cincinnati, Ohio

6 p.m.

Xavier University

12-11 (6-4BIG EAST)

St. John's

12-11 (3-7BIG EAST)

SJU

Xavier

Bessler Leads Xavier to Four-Set Win Over St. John’s

10.20.16 | Volleyball

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

Senior outside hitter posted a match-high 18 kills

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Senior outside hitter Abbey Bessler posted a match-high 18 kills on Thursday night to lead the Musketeers to a 3-1 (25-19, 15-25, 25-13, 25-18) over St. John's at Cintas Center.

Xavier moves to 12-11 (6-4 BIG EAST) on the year, while the Red Storm drop to 12-11 (3-7 BIG EAST). The Musketeers won both meetings this season against St. John's as they move to 9-0 all-time in the series history.

Xavier continues its homestand on Friday, Oct. 21 against Seton Hall. First serve is slated for 3 p.m.

MATCH NOTES

• Abbey Bessler was one of two Musketeers with 10 or more kills on the night. Classmate Sofia Peterson added 12 with a .450 attack percentage. Bessler also chipped in eight digs.

• Kristen Massa added eight kills, while Alexis Newsome had seven. Newsome also posted a .429 attack percentage.

• Xavier had eight total team blocks, paced by Alexis Newsome who had four. Brooke Betts and Abbey Bessler both chipped in three.

• Xavier held a 4-0 advantage in service aces in the match. Mackenzi Humm and Meredith Klare both had two for the Musketeers.

• Samantha Foti led the team in digs with 13, while Meredith Klare had 10. Mackenzi Humm recorded eight digs and a team-high 20 assists.

SET ONE

• Xavier never trailed in the opening set and led by as many as six points three times. Sofia Peterson had five kills and a .833 attack percentage.

SET TWO

• St. John's posted a .438 hitting percentage to even the match at 1-1. The Red Storm limited the Musketeers to a .071 attack percentage as they pulled away for the 25-15 victory.

SET THREE

• Xavier opened the third stanza on a 5-0 run to take an early lead they would never relinquish. Abbey Bessler posted seven kills in the set, while Kristen Massa had three. The Musketeers had three of their four service aces in the third set.

SET FOUR

• The Musketeers never trailed in the fourth set and jumped out to an early 11-4 advantage. Abbey Bessler hit .500 with five kills, while Sofia Peterson chipped in four.