Musketeers Host Indiana, Eastern Kentucky in Queen City Classic

Friday, September 14

Cincinnati, Ohio

12:30 p.m.

Xavier University

Indiana

Musketeers Host Indiana, Eastern Kentucky in Queen City Classic

09.13.18 | Volleyball

Xavier also travels to crosstown rival Cincinnati on Saturday

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Xavier volleyball opens its home schedule on Friday, Sept. 14 against Indiana at 12:30 p.m. at Cintas Center. The Musketeers also take on Eastern Kentucky on Friday night at 7 p.m.

Xavier and Cincinnati are hosting the Queen City Classic between two venues on Friday, Sept. 14 - Saturday, Sept. 15. Xavier will host two matches on Friday and travel to crosstown rival Cincinnati on Saturday.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Friday, Sept. 14
Indiana (A) at Xavier (H) - 12:30 p.m. ^
Eastern Kentucky (A) at Cincinnati (H) - 1 p.m. +
Eastern Kentucky (A) at Xavier (H) - 7 p.m. ^
Indiana (A) at Cincinnati (H) - 7 p.m. +

Saturday, Sept. 15
Indiana (A) vs Eastern Kentucky (H) - 4 p.m. ^
Xavier (A) at Cincinnati (H) - 4:30 p.m. +

^ Cintas Center
+ St. Ursula Academy

THE MATCHUP VS INDIANA

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (1-7) vs INDIANA HOOSIERS (6-2)
Match Info - Friday, Sept. 14 - 12:30 p.m. - Cintas Center
Live Stats - bit.ly/2BQZu3r

ABOUT INDIANA

2018 Record: 6-2 (0-0 Big Ten)
2017 Postseason: None
Series History: First meeting

NOTABLES
• Indiana is off to a 6-2 start after posting a 12-20 (1-19 Big Ten) record last year. The Hoosiers went 2-1 at the Ball State Active Ankle Challenge last week with wins against North Dakota State and Ball State. Deyshia Lofton and Abigail Westenhofer were both named to the All-Tournament Team.
• Kendall Beerman leads the Hoosiers in kills (3.16 p/s), while ranking second in digs (3.31 d/s). The junior outside hitter has posted double-digit kills in six of the team's eight matches this season.
• Sophomore Bayli Lebo ranks sixth in the Big Ten in digs (4.38 d/s). The defensive specialist has recorded 20 or more digs in four straight matches, including a career-high of 24 against Northern Iowa. She also leads Indiana in aces with 11.

THE MATCHUP VS EKU

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (1-7) vs EASTERN KENTUCKY COLONELS (1-8)
Match Info - Friday, Sept. 14 - 7 p.m. - Cintas Center
Live Stats - bit.ly/2BQZu3r
Watch Live - bit.ly/2NwmYjh

ABOUT EKU

2018 Record: 1-8 (0-0 OVC)
2017 Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier trails, 8-6
Last Meeting: XU 3, EKU 0 - 9/14/99

NOTABLES
• Eastern Kentucky is 1-8 this season. The Colonels were picked to finish fourth in the Preseason OVC Coaches Poll after posting a 13-19 (10-6 OVC) last year.
• Seniors Chloe Rojas and Cassie Knutson were named to the preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference Team. Rojas leads the team in digs with 134, while Knutson paces the team in kills (85).
• Eastern Kentucky ranks 12th in the OVC in hitting percentage (.098), while ranking 10th in opponent hitting percentage (.236).

THE MATCHUP VS CINCINNATI

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (1-7) at CINCINNATI BEARCATS (7-2)
Match Info - Saturday, Sept. 15 - 4 p.m. - St. Ursula Academy
Live Stats - bit.ly/2QqPxNI
Live Video - bit.ly/2N7oA3B

ABOUT CINCINNATI

2018 Record: 7-2 (0-0 AAC)
2017 Postseason: None
Series History: Xavier trails, 23-11
Last Meeting: UC 3, XU 2 - 9/1/18

NOTABLES
• Cincinnati is off to a 7-2 start after posting a 13-19 (11-9 AAC) record last year. The Bearcats were picked to finish second in the Preseason AAC Coaches' Poll.
• Jordan Thompson was recently named the AAC Offensive Player of the Week. She posted 5.46 kills per set at the Duke Invitational, helping the Bearcats to wins over ETSU and Coastal Carolina.
• Jordan Thompson leads the nation in kills per set (5.90 k/s), total kills (236) and points per set (6.43 p/s).
• Jordan Thompson was named the AAC Preseason Player of the Year. The redshirt-junior earned the honors for the third straight season. Senior outside hitter Carly Nolan was also named to the preseason all-conference team.

LAST WEEK IN REVIEW

• Xavier participated in the Stacey Clark Classic in West Lafayette, Ind., last weekend. The Musketeers played No. 19 Purdue, RV Louisville and Lipscomb over tournament play.

• Senior Laura Grossman led the team in kills (2.50 k/s), while adding 2.70 digs per set and six total blocks.

• Sophomore Audrey Adams led the team in blocks (10) last weekend and added 1.80 kills per set. The middle blocker added four digs.

• Senior Meredith Klare led the team in digs (40) and aces (3) last weekend. The libero averaged 4.00 digs per set.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

• Senior setter McKena Estes was named to the Stacey Clark Classic All-Tournament Team last weekend. The Indianapolis, Ind., native averaged a team-best 5.00 assists per set over three matches. Estes added 16 digs and one ace at the tournament.

KLARE - RECORD WATCH

• Senior Meredith Klare has 1,582 career digs to rank fourth all-time in program history. The libero is 28 digs away from moving into third place all-time.

• 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 (3.74 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 Norah Painter ranks second on the team in kills (2.40 k/s), while ranking second in the conference among freshmen in the category. The outside hitter has added a .232 hitting percentage and nine blocks.

• Audrey Adams ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in hitting percentage (.321). She also ranks third on the team in kills (1.93 k/s).

• Senior Laura Grossman ranks ninth in the BIG EAST in kills, averaging 3.07 kills per set. She also ranks 10th in total points per set (3.56).

• Xavier ranks third in the conference in hitting percentage (.228) and fifth in blocks (1.78 b/s).

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

• Xavier's eight opponents this season have combined to post a 43-32 (.573) record, including an 8-0 Purdue team that ranks 15th nationally.

FIRST SERVE

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

• The Musketeers will host their own tournament at Cintas Center on Sept. 14-15. Xavier takes on 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 opens 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 59-29 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 opens BIG EAST action on Friday, Sept. 21 at St. John's. The Musketeers also take on Seton Hall on Saturday, Sept. 22.