Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
Northern Kentucky (EXH)
Xavier Prepares for Regular Season with Exhibition against Northern Kentucky
08.23.19 | Volleyball
First serve at 1:00 pm at Cintas Center
This will be the 18th meeting between the two schools, with Xavier holding an 11-6 record against Northern Kentucky. Additionally, the Musketeers have won the last six matches against the Norse, dating back to a five-set victory on October 10, 1989.
Match Info - Saturday, Aug. 24 - 1:00 p.m. ET - Cintas Center
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ABOUT NORTHERN KENTUCKY |
2018 Record: 21-10 (11-5 Horizon)
2018 Postseason: NIVC 1st Round
Series History: Xavier leads, 11-6
Last Meeting: XU 3, NKU 1 - 08/31/13
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SERIES HISTORY - NORTHERN KENTUCKY |
• Xavier leads the all-time series, 11-6. The Musketeers are 6-0 in their last six matches against the Norse.
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LAST TIME OUT VS NORTHERN KENTUCKY |
• Xavier won a four-set match (25-15, 25-16, 23-25, 25-15) against Northern Kentucky on August 31, 2013 at Cintas Center. The victory extended Xavier's win streak against the Norse to six matches.
• Aubree Smith recorded a team-high 41 assists, as many as all of Northern Kentucky's setters combined. She also tallied five digs and four kills thoughout the match.
• Three Musketeers posted double-digit dig totals, as Sarah Brown (18), Abbey Bessler (13) and Lauren Metzger (11) combined for 42 of Xavier's 59 digs.
• Alex Smith led Xavier with 14 kills, while Sarah Brown and Abbey Bessler were close behind with 10 kills each.
• The Musketeers quadrupled Northern Kentucky's block total (8-2), and they collected five more aces (6-1) than the Norse. Alex Blair led the Musketeers in blocks with five (all assisted).
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X-TRAORDINARY 2018 PERFORMANCES |
• Freshman Jayda Carlton posted a single match-high 12 blocks against St. John's, tying the school record for single-match blocks with Alexis Newsome, who posted 12 blocks against St. John's on October 7, 2017.
• Xavier posted 11 more total team blocks (21-10) than the Red Storm. The 21 total team blocks were the second-most by a BIG EAST team last season.
• Freshman Mackenzie Mangette had five aces in the four-set win at Seton Hall. The five aces ranked tied-for-second in a single-match in the BIG EAST last season.
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FRESHMAN FAST FACTS |
• Maryann O'Toole joins Xavier from Louisville, Kentucky. She is a 6'0" outside hitter who led her team to back-to-back KHSAA State Titles in 2017 and 2018 with Assumption High School, posting a combined 83-3 record over that span. Over the course of her high school career, she recorded 168 kills, a .266 hitting percentage, 19 blocks and 55 digs.
• Carrigan O'Reilly hails from Westerville, Ohio, and attended Olentangy Orange High School. As a setter, she won three conference titles, two district championships, and recorded 2,286 assists and a .338 hitting percentage over the course of her career. She also earned numerous honors throughout her time in Central Ohio, including three All-Conference First Team honors (2016-18), two All-District First Team honors (2017-18), and All-Ohio Second Team honors in 2018 as well.
• Alyssa Overbeck stayed home to continue her volleyball career, as she attended Mercy McAuley High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a Libero standing 5'5", she gathered 1,436 digs and helped her team claim three district championships and three regional semifinal appearances. Additionally, she earned three All-Conference and All-District selections, was named to the OHSVCA Division I All-Ohio Team and was an Under Armour All-American nominee.
• Hayley Heitmeyer is a 6'3" middle blocker from Leipsic High School in Leipsic, Ohio. She finished her high school career with four school records: single-match kills, single-season kills, career aces (183) and career blocks (258). During her historic tenure, her team won Four Putnam County League Titles, two district titles and made one regional final appearance. Heitmeyer's accolades include Ohio District 8 Player of the Year (2018), Blanchard Valley Conference Player of the Year (2017-18) and Putnam County League Player of the Year (2018).
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AILSA WATSON |
• Junior Ailsa Watson joins Xavier as a transfer student-athlete from Concordia Univeristy-Irvine. Last year, the setter led the Eagles in assists (617) and aces (42). Also, she averaged 1.81 digs per set and 5.71 assists per set. Watson is originally from Sartell, Minnesota, where she attended Sartell High School. She currently holds the school record for career assists (2,005).
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ABOUT THE TEAM |
• Xavier graduated five seniors in Morgan Finn, Laura Grossman, Meredith Klare, Olivia Hart and McKena Estes.
• The Musketeers return eight letterwinners from last year, including three upperclassmen. Xavier will have one senior on the team this fall, defensive specialist Madi Kutruff.
• Xavier added five newcomers to the 2019 roster in Maryann O'Toole, Carrigan O'Reilly, Alyssa Overbeck, Hayley Heitmeyer and Ailsa Watson.
• Xavier is coached by Christy Pfeffenberger, who is entering her fifth season with the whistle around her neck. She has led the Musketeers to a 61-63 record overall, and a 45-38 record in BIG EAST conference play. Both records rank fourth among all-time Xavier volleyball coaches in winning-percentage.
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PRESEASON POLL |
• The Musketeers were picked to finish ninth in the preseason BIG EAST Coaches' Poll. Marquette was picked to win the conference title.
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UP NEXT |
• Xavier will travel to Utah to open their 2019 season at the Utah State Tournament on August 30. The Musketeers' first opponent is Southern Utah. First serve is scheduled for 12:00 pm ET
