Xavier Claims Victories over Utah State and Eastern Michigan

Friday, August 30

Logan, Utah

12 p.m.

Xavier University

2-1

Southern Utah

3-0

Southern Utah

Xavier

Photo by: Brett Hansbauer/4th Floor Creative

Xavier Claims Victories over Utah State and Eastern Michigan

09.01.19 | Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score 3

Lauren Hanlon and Ellie Chaffee named to All-Tournament Team

By: Mark Leopold, Xavier Athletic Communications

LOGAN, Utah - Xavier volleyball picked up two four-set victories this past weekend at the Utah State Tournament, beating the host (25-21, 25-17, 16-25, 25-22) and Eastern Michigan (25-12, 25-20, 29-31, 25-22) after falling to Southern Utah in their regular-season opener (26-28, 19-25, 22-25). Additionally, RS Lauren Hanlon and MB Ellie Chaffee were named to the All-Tournament Team following their outstanding play.

Xavier (2-1) returns to Cincinnati to host the Xavier University Tournament on September 6-7. They line up to face Akron on September 6 at 7:00 pm ET, William & Mary on September 7 at 11:00 am ET and Wright State on September 7 at 7:00 pm ET.

Match 1: SUU Highlights

• Moriah Hopkins and Lauren Hanlon led the way in the season opener with 10 kills each. Hopkins had only two errors on her 20 attacks, and finished the match with a .400 hitting percentage.

• In their respective Musketeer debuts, MaryAnn O'Toole finished with five kills and team-high 14 digs, setter Carrigan O'Reilly provided 19 assists and seven digs, third-set libero Alyssa Overbeck gave two assists and five digs, and transfer setter Ailsa Watson chipped in 12 assists and four kills.

• O'Toole and Watson also picked up aces for the Musketeers, while Jayda Carlton connected with Hopkins, Hanlon, and Chaffee for Xavier's block total.

SUU Set One

• Set One was a battle throughout that consisted of 13 tie scores and three lead changes. Neither team ever built more than a two-point advantage, as Xavier fought to tie the score multiple times. In the end, the Musketeers expended all of their substitutes and the mountain was too hard to climb as the set went beyond the usual 25 points.

• Lauren Hanlon was the standout in Xavier's opening set, as she put away five kills on seven attacks to post a .571 hitting percentage.

SUU Set Two

• Set Two began just as tightly as Set One, with neither team able to gain much of an edge. However, after the first break in the match, Southern Utah went on a run to stretch their lead to as much as five, before Xavier nearly pulled back even with a run of their own. With the score 16-17 in favor of SUU, the T-Birds took another timeout that proved to be the game-changer, as they went on to win the set 25-19.

SUU Set Three

• Set Three was mostly in favor of Southern Utah. Though Xavier was never far away, the Thunderbirds led throughout. However, with the Musketeers' backs against the wall late, they rattled off a 6-1 run to close within two, but SUU shut the door to finish the set 25-22 and clinch the match.

Match 2: USU Highlights

• It was clear that both teams came in to this match with something to prove, as Utah State lost a heartbreaking five-set match to Eastern Michigan early in the day, and both teams were hungry for the year's first win.

• Xavier had three players reach double-digit kills, as Moriah Hopkins (11), Norah Painter (12) and Lauren Hanlon (14) combined for 37 of the team's 50 kills. Ellie Chaffee led the way with efficiency, as she put away four kills at a .300 clip.

• Libero Alyssa Overbeck was all over the court in Match Two, as she dug an astounding 20 balls. MaryAnn O'Toole played excellent defense as well, claiming 17 digs of her own.

USU Set One

• Utah State took the lead early, but Xavier was already used to adversity. The Aggies couldn't slip away, and as Xavier matched run after run, Utah state was forced to use both of their timeouts early. With no more answers, Xavier pulled away and fought off a late comeback attempt to claim Set One, 25-21.

USU Set Two

• Set Two was all Xavier. After taking the lead early, they never let it go taking the set wire-to-wire. The Middle blockers were particularly outstanding, as Utah State couldn't muster many clean attacks. Jayda Carlton (five) and Ellie Chaffee (three) led the Musketeers in assisted blocks for the match, most coming in this crucial stretch.

• Xavier stretched their lead to seven before the Aggies went on a mini-run. Then, Norah Painter sent back a heavy block before going up for a blistering kill on the very next point. With Utah State temporarily demoralized, Xavier took the set with ease, 25-17.

USU Set Three

• With noting to lose, Utah State came out and dominated Set Three. Falling behind 0-2 on their home court didn't sit well, and Xavier couldn't even tie the Aggies after the initial 0-0 score. Hanlon, O'Toole, and Chaffee each picked up three kills in the middle-going, but Utah State was too much.

USU Set Four

• Set Four mirrored the season-opener for Xavier. Utah State was playing cohesively, but Xavier was ready. The set consisted of 9 tie scores and six lead changes before the Musketeers went on a 5-1 run late. Utah State was out of gas, and Xavier went on to claim their first victory of 2019 by clinching Set Four, 25-22.

Match 3: EMU Highlights

• Confident and hungry for more, Xavier took on the undefeated Eastern Michigan Eagles the following morning, and it followed a similar pattern to what they've been used to in this tournament.

• Xavier had three players reach double-digit kills again, as this time Norah Painter (10), Ellie Chaffee (13) and Lauren Hanlon (16) combined for 39 of the team's 66 kills. Ellie Chaffee could not be stopped, as after only one error on 24 attacks, she finished the match with an almost unbelievable .500 hitting percentage.

• Setters Carrigan O'Reilly had 27 assists and Ailsa Watson nearly matched her with 26 of her own to go along with two more aces.

• Defensively, the Musketeers were led by MaryAnn O'Toole, and Alyssa Overbeck, who are proving they can cover the court as well as anyone in the country. The two freshmen combined for 35 of the team's 60 digs.

EMU Set One

• With technical difficulties hindering the stats early on in the match, viewers tuned in to see Xavier break out to a 19-7 advantage in Set One. With no ties or lead changes, it's clear that Eastern Michigan must not have been as rested as Xavier, and XU won big, 25-12.

EMU Set Two

• The Eagles looked more composed in Set Two, as they rushed to a four-point lead. However, a Christy Pfeffenberger timeout inspired Xavier to go on a 6-1 run to take the lead and never relinquish it. While they never got too far ahead, the set was firmly in their control.

• Remarkably, with the set still in doubt as Xavier led 22-20, an EMU attacker sent a hard shot past the blockers. However, a diving Overbeck was able to leap backwards, not only preventing the kill, but sending the ball back into Eastern Michigan's half and falling in for a point. Xavier took the final two points to take another 2-0 lead in the tournament.

EMU Set Three

• Set Three was about as close as it gets. With 12 ties and four lead changes, Eastern Michigan has to get some momentum, but Xavier was unrelenting. Down as much as 4-10 early, the Musketeers went on a clinical 10-1 run to go up 14-11. However, an eMu timeout led to the Eagles clawing their way back. tot ake the lead 21-19. Xavier would not give up though, as they mounted the third comeback of the set alone to take the lead late.

• Unfortunately, without replay being utilized in this match, Set Three ended in controversy. On Xavier match point, a late attack by EMU landed near the back line. The line judge signaled a tip ball by a Xavier blocker, while the head official signaled that the ball was long and Xavier should be awarded the point. After deliberation, the official did not overrule the line judge's call, no replay could be utilized and EMU survived match point and went on to claim the set.

EMU Set Four

• Understandably fuming, Xavier jumped out to a 6-0 lead to start Set Four. They would never allow the Eagles to pull even again, as they held that advantage roughly throughout the set to eventually claim a 25-22 win and clinch the match.

Awards

• Following the tournament, Lauren Hanlon and Ellie Chaffee were among six players to be named to the All-Tournament Team. Hanlon piled up 40 kills, a .333 hitting percentage, three blocks and 41.5 points. Chaffee tallied 18 kills, a .410 hitting percentage, five blocks, and two aces.

Up Next

• Xavier (2-1) returns to Cincinnati to host the Xavier University Tournament on September 6-7. They line up to face Akron on September 6 at 7:00 pm ET, William & Mary on September 7 at 11:00 am ET and Wright State on September 7 at 7:00 pm ET.