Massa, Musketeers Top Milwaukee in Four Sets

Friday, September 9

Kalamazoo, Mich.

12 p.m.

Xavier University

4-4

Milwaukee

5-2

Milwaukee

Xavier

09.09.16 | Volleyball

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Kristen Massa posts a match-high 15 kills, Xavier records 16 team blocks

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Junior Kristen Massa posted a match-high 15 kills on Friday afternoon as Xavier volleyball opened Holiday Inn West Invitational play with a four-set win (25-18, 23-25, 25-14, 25-16) over Milwaukee.

The two-day tournament is being hosted by Western Michigan at University Arena. The Musketeers moved to 4-4 on the year, while the Panthers dropped to 5-2.

Xavier returns to action on Friday night at 7 p.m. against the host Broncos.

MATCH NOTES

• Xavier posted a season-high 16 blocks, the most blocks in match since tying the school record with 20 on Sept. 19, 2014 against Lipscomb.

• Brooke Betts led the team with eight blocks (four assist, four solo). Lauren Frilling also added five blocks (three solo, two assist).

• Kristen Massa's 15 kills were a season-high and her third straight match with 10 or more kills. She has four matches with double figure kills on the year.

• Kristen Massa also led the team with a .345 hitting percentage as the Musketeers finished the match hitting .278. Defensively, Xavier limited Milwaukee to a season-low .040 hitting percentage.

• Samantha Foti matched her season-high in digs with 15. Meredith Klare added 11.

• Xavier matched its season-high in aces with six, led by Laura Grossman who had three. The sophomore added seven kills, five digs and a .385 hitting percentage.

• Sofia Peterson and Alexis Newsome combined for 17 kills in 39 attempts. They also combined for six blocks (two solo, four assist).

SET ONE

• Tied at 17, the Musketeers closed the set on an 8-1 run – including the final seven points. Xavier took advantage of five Panther errors down the stretch.

• Alexis Newsome had a team-high five kills to go along with a .571 hitting percentage.

SET TWO

• Set two featured 10 ties and six lead changes. Xavier led by as many as six, 17-11, before Milwaukee rallied to win the set, 25-23.

SET THREE

• Xavier opened with a 14-3 run and never looked back, winning the set, 25-14.

• Xavier had six of its 16 blocks in the set with four coming from Brooke Betts. The Musketeers also hit .345 in the frame, led by Kristen Massa who hit .800 (6K, 8TA).

SET FOUR

• With the match tied at 13, the Musketeers went on 6-3 run to regain a lead they would never relinquish. Xavier scored the final six points of the set to win, 25-16.

• The Musketeers posted a .385 hitting percentage in the set, their highest percentage on the day. Kristen Massa and Sofia Peterson both had a team-high four kills in the set.