Non-Conference Tournament Action Continues at Western Michigan

CINCINNATI – Xavier volleyball travels to the Holiday Inn West Invitational hosted by Western Michigan on Sep. 9-10. The two-day tournament will be played at University Arena in Kalamazoo, Mich.

THE MATCHUP

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (3-4) vs MILWAUKEE PANTHERS (5-1)
Match Info: Friday, Sept. 9 – 12 p.m. – University Arena
Live Stats: http://bit.ly/2ctTZap

ABOUT MILWAUKEE

2015 Record: 9-21 (7-9 Horizon)
Postseason: None
• Milwaukee is 5-1 on the year, most recently defeating George Mason in three sets at the Hampton Inn Shelton Invitational. The Panthers were 9-21 (7-9 Horizon) last year.
• Milwaukee was picked to finish tied for fifth in the Horizon League's Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Bri Wallenberger leads the team in total kills with 47, while ranking second on the team in total blocks (24). As a team, Milwaukee ranks second in the conference in hitting percentage (.245) and first in blocks (2.86 b/s).
• Xavier is 0-1 in the all-time series with Milwaukee. The Panthers defeated the Musketeers in five sets on Oct. 15, 1994.

THE MATCHUP

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (3-4) at WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS (2-5)
Match Info: Friday, Sept. 9 – 7 p.m. – University Arena
Live Stats: http://bit.ly/2ctTZap

ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN

2015 Record: 15-18 (10-6 MAC)
Postseason: None
• Xavier is 2-1 all-time against the Broncos. Xavier defeated Western Michigan in five sets in the last meeting – coming on Nov. 24, 2010.
• The Broncos are 2-5 overall and have lost three straight. Western Michigan was 15-18 (10-6 MAC) last season and was picked to finish second in the MAC West Division.
• Sydney LeMay earned preseason all-conference honors. The junior middle blocker leads the team in kills (4.12 k/s) and blocks (0.72 b/s).

THE MATCHUP

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (3-4) vs TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS (5-1)
Match Info: Saturday, Sept. 10 – 12 p.m. – University Arena
Live Stats: http://bit.ly/2ctTZap

ABOUT TENNESSEE

2015 Record: 21-12 (7-11 SEC)
Postseason: None
• The Volunteers are 5-1 on the year, most recently competing at the Cleveland State Tournament on Sept. 2-3. Tennessee posted a 21-12 (7-11 SEC) record last season.
• Tennessee was picked to finish ninth in the SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Xavier is 2-3 all-time against the Volunteers. Tennessee has won three straight in the series, most recently defeating the Musketeers, 3-0, on Aug. 27 to open the 2010 season.

NOTABLES

• Alexis Newsome ranks second in the BIG EAST in both hitting percentage (.361) and blocks (1.14 b/s). The redshirt-sophomore has added 1.86 k/s this season.

• Meredith Klare ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in digs per set (4.21). The sophomore libero averaged 3.88 d/s in 2015.

• Abbey Bessler ranks third in the BIG EAST in points (4.48 p/s) and second in kills (4.25 k/s). She is one of only two players in the conference with more than 100 total kills this season.

NCAA STAT RANKINGS

• Xavier ranks second in the BIG EAST and 12th nationally in team kills (392). The Musketeers also rank 13th nationally in total assists (367).

• Individually, Abbey Bessler ranks 37th in kills per set (4.25) and 24th in total points (125.5).

LAST TIME OUT

• Xavier is coming off a four-set loss at Miami (OH) on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

• Abbey Bessler and Kristen Massa led Xavier in kills with 10 each. Alexis Newsome added nine and Sofia Peterson chipped in eight.

CAREER RECORD WATCH: BESSLER

• Abbey Bessler ranks fourth all-time at Xavier in kills (1,428), second in attack attempts (4,112) and third in total points (1,616.5). She is currently 27 digs away from cracking into the top-10 list for digs.

THE SCHEDULE

• Xavier plays its first 13 matches on the road, with 12 matches played in a tournament.

• Xavier faces eight teams that participated in the 2015 NCAA Tournament, including a Kansas squad that advanced to the Final Four. Fifteen of the Musketeers 22 opponents posted a winning record last year.

• The Musketeers' 22 opponents combined to post a 401-295 record last season with a .576 winning percentage. Xavier's opponents averaged 18 wins per game a year ago.

• Xavier will face teams from seven different conferences this year, including three Big Ten foes and two SEC squads.

• Xavier will face three teams for the first time in program history this fall: Missouri State, Northwestern and Southeastern Louisiana.

PRESEASON POLL

• The Musketeers were picked to finish third in the BIG EAST Preseason Poll as announced by the conference office on Aug. 3. The preseason poll and All-BIG EAST selections were voted on by the conference's 10 head coaches.

PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST

• Three Musketeers were selected to the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team in Abbey Bessler, Kristen Massa and Sofia Peterson. Xavier and Creighton were the only two teams with three players each on the preseason team.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• The Musketeers posted an 18-12 overall record last year, the team's 18th straight year with a .500 or above record.

• Xavier has posted a 38-14 record in BIG EAST play since joining the conference in 2013. The Musketeers have advanced to the conference tournament in all three seasons.

• Xavier players have earned AVCA All-American honors eight times in the last 11 years. Aubree Smith earned the honors last season, while Abbey Bessler picked up the recognition in 2013.

UP NEXT

• Xavier travels to the Stacey Clark Classic hosted by Purdue on Sept. 16-17. The Musketeers open tournament play on Friday, Sept. 16 against No. 4 Kansas.

Schedule

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