Musketeers Top Golden Eagles in Four Sets on Senior Night

Saturday, November 19

Cincinnati, Ohio

6 p.m.

Xavier University

19-12, 13-5BIG EAST

Marquette

23-7, 13-5BIG EAST

Marquette

Xavier

Musketeers Top Golden Eagles in Four Sets on Senior Night

11.19.16 | Volleyball

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

Senior class combined for 38 kills on Saturday night

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier volleyball defeated Marquette in four sets (25-23, 19-25, 25-20, 25-19) on Saturday night to send its senior class out with a victory. The Musketeers end regular-season action with a 19-12 (13-5 BIG EAST) record.

Xavier has clinched a spot in the four-team BIG EAST Tournament on Nov. 25-26 in Indianapolis, Ind. The Musketeers will be the No. 3 seed and take on No. 2 seed Marquette on Friday, Nov. 25 at 3:05 p.m. in the semifinals. The complete bracket will be announced on Sunday night after the conclusion of the remaining BIG EAST matches.

MATCH NOTES

• The Musketeers' senior class of Abbey Bessler, Brooke Betts and Sofia Peterson combined to post 38 of the team's 65 kills. Bessler had a team-high 19 kills, while Peterson had 13 and Betts had six.

• Brooke Betts also posted a team-high .417 hitting percentage and had three blocks. Xavier held an 8-6 advantage in total team blocks with Alexis Newsome pacing the team with four.

• Kristen Massa rounded out the Xavier players with 10 or more kills with 12. Morgan Finn added nine with a .333 attack percentage.

• Meredith Klare posted a match-high 14 digs, while McKena Estes had 13. Estes also dished out 23 assists for her fourth double-double of the year.

SET ONE

• The opening set had five ties and two lead changes. Trailing 17-9, the Musketeers went on a 13-5 run to tie the match at 22. Xavier would seal the victory on block assists from Alexis Newsome and Morgan Finn.

• Senior Sofia Peterson had four kills and hit .500, while classmate Brooke Betts had three kills and hit .750.

SET TWO

• Xavier led by as many as six, 14-8, before the Golden Eagles scored eight straight to regain the lead, 16-14. Marquette never relinquished the lead as the Golden Eagles pulled away for the 25-19 win.

SET THREE

• The third set featured eight ties and one lead change. Tied at 12, the Musketeers went on a 10-1 run to take a 22-13 advantage. Xavier would hold for the 25-20 win to take a 2-1 match lead.

• Abbey Bessler had eight kills, while Meredith Klare had 10 digs.

SET FOUR

• Xavier scored the first four points of the fourth set and never looked back – never trailing in the final set. The Musketeers led by as many as six four times before pulling away for the 25-19 win.

• Sofia Peterson had five kills and hit .833 in the frame.