Volleyball Opens Home Schedule on Tuesday Against Miami (Ohio)

Tuesday, August 29

Cincinnati, Ohio

7 p.m.

Xavier University

Miami (Ohio)

Volleyball Opens Home Schedule on Tuesday Against Miami (Ohio)

08.28.17 | Volleyball

Live Stats Watch Live

First serve is slated for 7 p.m. from Cintas Center

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Xavier volleyball takes on Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. from Cintas Center. Xavier enters the match with a 3-0 record, while Miami is 2-1.

All fans in attendance on Tuesday night will receive a 2017 volleyball poster. The entire team will also be available for autographs following the match.

ABOUT MIAMI

2017 Record: 2-1
2016 Postseason: NCAA Tournament (First Round)
Series History: Xavier trails, 18-3
Last Meeting: MU 3, XU 1 - 09/16/16

NOTABLES
• The RedHawks went 24-7 (15-1 MAC) a year ago and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Miami returns four starters and its libero from last season.
• Miami was picked to win the MAC in the Preseason MAC Coaches' Poll. Seniors Katie Tomasic and Maeve McDonald were both selected to the preseason all-conference team.
• The RedHawks hosted their own tournament to start the season, posting a 2-1 record with wins over Northern Arizona (3-1) and Southern Illinois (3-0).

NOTABLES

• Xavier opened the season by winning the Hampton Inn Invitational in Bowling Green, Ohio, on Aug. 25-26. The Musketeers only dropped one set over the weekend with wins over Duquesne, UIC and Bowling Green.

• Xavier posted 16 more blocks (27-11) than its opponents over the weekend. Five players had six or more blocks.

• Junior Meredith Klare paced the Musketeers in digs with 45 (4.50 d/s), while adding four service aces. She was one of four Xavier players with four aces as the Musketeers finished the weekend with 14.

• Freshman Maya Krause finished the tournament with 23 kills to rank second on the team. The outside hitter added seven blocks and five digs.

• Mackenzi Humm led the team in assists with 80 (8.00 a/s), while freshman Nadia Dieudonne chipped in 32. The two setters combined to post 37 digs.

MASSA - MVP

• Senior Kristen Massa was named the Hampton Inn Invitational MVP. She record 44 kills – averaging 4.40 k/s – over three matches to go along with 33 digs. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native added four aces and nine blocks.

• Massa's weekend was highlighted by a career-high 18 kills in the 3-1 win over UIC. The outside hitter also posted her first career double-double in the three-set win over Bowling Green (11 kills, 18 digs).

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

• Senior middle blockers Lauren Frilling and Alexis Newsome joined classmate Kristen Massa on the All-Tournament Team.

• Frilling led the team in blocks with 13, while adding 20 kills (2.00 k/s) and four aces. The middle blocker's weekend was highlighted by a career-high eight blocks in the four-set win over UIC.

• Newsome ranked second on the team in blocks (11) over the weekend. The middle blocker added 14 kills and four digs.

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 41-25 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.