Seniors Lead Musketeers to Five Set Victory at Butler

Saturday, October 8

Indianapolis, Ind.

4 p.m.

Xavier University

9-10, 3-3

Butler

13-9, 2-4

Xavier

Butler

Seniors Lead Musketeers to Five Set Victory at Butler

10.08.16 | Volleyball

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

Trio of veterans record 47 of Xavier’s 66 kills in the match

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

INDIANAPOLIS – Seniors Abbey Bessler, Brooke Betts and Sofia Peterson combined for 47 of the Musketeers 66 kills on Saturday afternoon as Xavier topped Butler in five sets (20-25, 25-22, 25-13, 24-26, 15-12) at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

The Musketeers moved to 9-10 (3-3 BIG EAST), while the Bulldogs dropped to 13-9 (2-4 BIG EAST). Xavier has now won six of the last seven meetings between the two schools.

MATCH NOTES

• Abbey Bessler posted a match-high 22 kills, her fourth match of the year with 20 or more kills. The senior outside hitter also added five digs and two blocks.

• Sofia Peterson matched her career high in kills with 17. The senior right side added a match-high .536 hitting percentage to go along with four digs and three blocks.

• Brooke Betts chipped in eight kills with a .500 hitting percentage. The senior middle blocker also had a team-high six blocks.

• Meredith Klare was one of four Musketeers with 10 or more digs – posting a match and season-high 25 digs. Samantha Foti added 15 digs.

• McKena Estes recorded her second double-double of the year with 26 assists and 11 digs. Fellow setter Mackenzi Humm also had a double-double – her third of the year – as she posted 28 assists and 10 digs.

• Xavier had seven more total team blocks (11-4) than Butler. The Musketeers also hit .270 in the win, while limiting the Bulldogs to a .186 attack percentage.

SET ONE

• Butler led by as many as seven, 18-11, late in the set before the Musketeers battled back to get within four (22-18). The Bulldogs scored three of the final five points in the set to win, 25-20.

Abbey Bessler had six kills in the opening set, while classmate Sofia Peterson had four.

SET TWO

• The second set featured eight ties and four lead changes. Xavier led by as many as five, 17-12, before Butler used a 9-4 run to tie the match at 21. The Musketeers closed the frame on a 4-1 run to win, 25-22.

• Abbey Bessler and Sofia Peterson would combined for 10 kills again in the set.

SET THREE

• Xavier hit .378 in the third set, its highest percentage on the afternoon. The Musketeers built an early 13-5 advantage before pulling away for the 25-13 win.

• Sofia Peterson hit .625 with five kills in the frame.

SET FOUR

• The fourth set had 11 ties and four lead changes. Tied at 24, the Bulldogs took advantage of back-to-back Xavier attack errors to force a fifth set.

SET FIVE

• The final set had four ties and three lead changes. Tied at seven, the Musketeers went on a 4-1 run to take a lead they would never relinquish.

UP NEXT

• Xavier closes a three-game road swing at DePaul on Wednesday, Oct. 12. First serve is slated for 7 p.m.