Musketeers, Blue Demons Set for Midweek BIG EAST Matchup

Wednesday, October 10

Chicago, Ill.

7 p.m.

Xavier University

DePaul

Musketeers, Blue Demons Set for Midweek BIG EAST Matchup

10.09.18 | Volleyball

Watch Live Live Stats

First serve is slated for 7 pm. ET

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier volleyball opens a four-match road swing at DePaul on Wednesday, Oct. 10. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. ET from McGrath-Phillips Arena.

THE MATCHUP VS DEPAUL

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (5-13, 3-4) at DEPAUL BLUE DEMONS (4-13, 2-4)
Match Info - Wednesday, Oct. 10 - 7 p.m. ET - McGrath-Phillips Arena
Live Video - bit.ly/2NtJ8yo
Live Stats - bit.ly/2OJR6bb

ABOUT DEPAUL

2018 Record: 4-13 (2-4 BIG EAST)
2017 Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier leads, 16-5
Last Meeting: XU 3, DPU 0 - 10/21/18

NOTABLES
• DePaul was picked to finish 10th in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll after posting a 9-22 (2-16 BIG EAST) record last year. Senior Brittany Maxwell earned preseason all-conference honors.
• The Blue Demons are led by first-year head coach Marie Zidek. She was previously an assistant coach at San Diego (2014-17) where she helped the Toreros advance to four straight NCAA Tournaments. Zidek also spent time as an assistant coach at DePaul from 2010-12.
• DePaul ranks 10th in the BIG EAST in hitting percentage (.152), opponent hitting percentage (.266), assists (10.97 a/s), kills (11.43 k/s), blocks (1.02 b/s) and aces (0.68 a/s). Sophomore Avarie Evans-Allen ranks seventh in the conference in hitting percentage (.324).

SERIES HISTORY - DEPAUL

• Xavier leads the all-time series, 16-5, and has won five straight against the Blue Demons.

• Morgan Finn led the Musketeers with 17 kills against DePaul last year, while Laura Grossman added 11. Meredith Klare averaged 5.38 digs per set in the series last season, totaling 43 digs.

LAST TIME OUT

• Xavier went 1-1 last weekend with a five-set win over Villanova (Oct. 5) and a three-set loss to Georgetown (Oct. 6).

• The Musketeers posted a 27-15 advantage in blocks over their opponents last weekend, paced by freshman Jayda Carlton who had 15 (11 assists, four solo).

• Senior Laura Grossman led th team in kills (2.88 k/s), while ranking second in digs (4.12 d/s). Sophomore Audrey Adams added 22 kills and a .413 hitting percentage, while classmate Moriah Hopkins chipped in 21 kills.

KLARE - WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

• Senior Meredith Klare was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday. She led the Musketeers in digs (56), averaging 7.00 digs per set. Klare added 12 assists and one ace.

• In the five set win over Villanova on Friday, Klare recorded 40 digs - the third most in school history. The 40 digs also rank fourth in the NCAA this season.

• The Union, Ky., native also moved into second place all-time at Xavier in career digs over the weekend. She now has 1,755 career digs.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

• Freshman Jayda Carlton posted a match-high 12 blocks against St. John's, tying the school record for single-match blocks. Alexis Newsome posted 12 blocks against St. John's last season on Oct. 7. The 12 blocks are also the most by a BIG EAST player this season, while ranking 10th in the NCAA.

• Xavier posted 11 more total team blocks (21-10) than the Red Storm. The 21 total team blocks are the second-most by a BIG EAST team this season, while ranking seventh in the NCAA.

• Freshman Mackenzie Mangette had five aces in the four-set win at Seton Hall. The five aces rank tied for second in single-match aces in the BIG EAST this season.

KLARE - RECORD WATCH

• Senior Meredith Klare has 1,755 career digs to rank second all-time in program history. Stephanie Vorherr (2009-12) holds the program record with 2,152 digs.

• The Union, Ky., native posted 520 digs a year ago, the fourth most in single-season school history.

NOTABLES

• Senior Meredith Klare leads the team in digs (4.35 d/s) this season. The libero led the BIG EAST in digs per set (4.37) last year and finished the year ranked 88th nationally in total digs.

• Freshman Jayda Carlton leads the Musketeers in blocks with 57. The middle blocker is averaging 1.19 blocks per set to rank third in the BIG EAST. In conference only matches, she is averaging 1.65 digs per set to lead the BIG EAST.

• Audrey Adams leads the BIG EAST in hitting percentage (.388). She also ranks second on the team in kills (2.31 k/s).

FIRST SERVE

• Xavier played its first eight matches on the road. The Musketeers traveled to the Puerto Rico Clásico on Aug. 31-Sept. 2 and the Purdue Tournament on Sept. 7-8.

• The Musketeers hosted their own tournament at Cintas Center on Sept. 14-15. Xavier faced Indiana, Eastern Kentucky and crosstown rival Cincinnati during tournament action.

• Xavier will only play one non-conference match outside of tournament action. The Musketeers play host to rival Dayton on Monday, Nov. 5 at Cintas Center.

OPPONENT BREAKDOWN

• Xavier will play three teams that finished the year ranked in the AVCA Coaches' Poll: No. 16 Creighton, No. 18 Purdue and No. 20 Missouri.

• The Musketeers take on five teams that participated in the 2017 NCAA Tournament (Missouri, Purdue, Louisville, Creighton and Marquette). Twelve of the Musketeers 21 opponents posted a winning record last year.

• The Musketeers' 21 opponents combined to post a 351-292 last season with a .546 winning percentage. Xavier's opponents averaged 16.7 wins a year ago.

• Xavier will face teams from 11 different conferences this year, including teams from the Big Ten, ACC, PAC-12 and Big 12.

• The Musketeers will face three teams for the first time in program history this fall: Oklahoma, Arizona State and Indiana. The meetings with Northern Illinois and Towson will only be the second meetings in school history.

ABOUT THE TEAM

• Xavier graduated five seniors in Lauren Frilling, Samantha Foti, Kristen Massa, Alexis Newsome and Mackenzi Humm.

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

• Xavier added six newcomers to the 2018 roster in Jayda Carlton, Ellie Chaffee, Kelly Franxman, Mackenzie Mangette, Norah Painter and Ryan Shannon.

• Xavier players have earned AVCA All-American honors nine times in the last 13 years. Abbey Bessler most recently earned AVCA All-American honorable mention team honors in 2016.

BIG EAST NOTES

• Xavier opened BIG EAST play on Sept. 21 at St. John's. Seven of Xavier's first 11 conference matches are on the road.

• Xavier has posted a 62-33 record in BIG EAST play since joining the conference in 2013. The Musketeers have advanced to the conference tournament in three of their four seasons in the BIG EAST.

• Creighton will host the 2018 BIG EAST Tournament after being held at Marquette in 2017.

NEW ASSISTANT COACHES

• Xavier added two new assistant coaches during the offseason in Katie Meyer and Ali Butcher. Meyer was named an assistant coach in January of 2018 after spending three seasons as an assistant coach at Ursuline College.

• Butcher was named a volunteer assistant coach in August of 2018. She previously worked at Elevation Volleyball Club for two years, serving as an assistant to the club directors while also working as a club coach.

PRESEASON POLL

• The Musketeers were picked to finish tied for sixth in the preseason BIG EAST Coaches' Poll. Xavier was tied with St. John's in sixth place, while Marquette was picked to win the conference title.

UP NEXT

• Xavier continues BIG EAST action at Butler on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 2 p.m.