Xavier Volleyball Opens Season at Hampton Inn Invitational

Friday, August 25

Bowling Green, Ohio

10 a.m.

Xavier University

Duquesne

Xavier Volleyball Opens Season at Hampton Inn Invitational

08.24.17 | Volleyball

Live Stats 2017 Schedule

Musketeers travel to Bowling Green on Aug. 25-26

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Xavier volleyball opens the 2017 season at the Hampton Inn Invitational in Bowling Green, Ohio, on Aug. 25-26. The Musketeers will play the host Falcons in addition to Duquesne and UIC.

The two-day tournament will be played at the Stroh Center on the campus of Bowling Green State University.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Friday, Aug. 25 vs Duquesne at 10 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 25 vs UIC at 5 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 26 at Bowling Green at 2 p.m.

ABOUT DUQUESNE

2016 Record: 18-12, 8-6 (A-10)
Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier leads, 33-5
Last Meeting: Xavier 3, Duquesne 2 - 8/30/14

ABOUT UIC

2016 Record: 16-14, 4-12 (Horizon)
Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier trails, 4-2
Last Meeting: Xavier 3, UIC 1 - 11/4/94

ABOUT BGSU

2016 Record: 21-10, 10-6 (MAC)
Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier trails, 3-2
Last Meeting: Xavier 3, BGSU 0 - 9/19/09

SEASON OPENER

• The Musketeers are 22-12 in season openers since the start of the 1983 season (first year at Division I level). Xavier has won five of its last six season openers, including a 3-2 win over Missouri State last season at the Illini Classic.

PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST

• Senior Kristen Massa was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. Massa, a 2015 All-BIG EAST First Team selection, ranked third on the team in kills (292) last season, while adding 47 blocks and 63 digs. The Cincinnati native had 10 or more kills in 16 matches.

PRESEASON POLL

• The Musketeers were picked to finish fourth in the BIG EAST Preseason Poll as selected by conference head coaches. The Musketeers finished tied for second in the BIG EAST standings a year ago and advanced to the conference tournament championship match before being defeated by No. 21 Creighton.

SCHEDULE NOTES

• Xavier will play nine of its first 13 matches of the season on the road. The Musketeers will also travel to Georgia Tech (Sept. 7-8) and Colorado State (Sept. 16) for non-conference tournaments.

• Xavier faces seven teams that participated in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. Seventeen of the Musketeers 23 opponents posted a winning record last year.

• The Musketeers' 23 opponents combined to post a 433-289 record last season with a .600 winning percentage. Xavier's opponents averaged 18.8 wins a year ago.

BIG EAST NOTES

• Xavier opens BIG EAST play on Sept. 20 against DePaul at Cintas Center. Five of Xavier's first seven conference matches will be played at home.

• Xavier has posted a 51-19 record in BIG EAST play since joining the conference in 2013. The Musketeers have advanced to the conference tournament in all four seasons.

• The BIG EAST Tournament will be hosted by Marquette after being held at Butler in 2016.

ABOUT THE TEAM

• Xavier posted a 20-13 (13-5) record last season under head coach Christy Pfeffenberger. The 20-win campaign was the 21st in program history.

• The Musketeers overall record of 20-13 last year was the programs 19th consecutive season with a .500 or above record.

• Head coach Christy Pfeffenberger has posted a 38-25 overall record in two seasons with the Musketeers, including a 27-9 mark in BIG EAST play.

• Xavier players have earned AVCA All-American honors nine times in the last 12 years. Abbey Bessler earned AVCA All-American honorable mention team honors last year.

• The Musketeers return 11 letterwinners from last year, including nine upperclassmen. Xavier will have four seniors on the team this fall.

• The Musketeers graduated three seniors, including All-BIG EAST First Team selections Abbey Bessler and Sofia Peterson. Both players also earned AVCA East Region First-Team honors.

• Xavier added four newcomers in the offseason in Lauren Hanlon, Nadia Dieudonne, Moriah Hopkins and Maya Krause.

UP NEXT

• The Musketeers will host their own tournament at Cintas Center on Sept. 1-2. Xavier faces Texas State, Western Michigan and crosstown rival Cincinnati during tournament play.